Giving Thanks Through The Struggle | Charles Blake II | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Giving Thanks Through The Struggle

Charles Blake II

West Angeles Church of God in Christ • Nov 23, 2025 • 154 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this encouraging sermon, Pastor Charles Blake II explores how believers can maintain an posture of thanksgiving even when facing intense struggle and adversity. Drawing from the example of the Apostle Paul—who wrote letters of gratitude while bound in prison chains—the message reminds us that true gratitude flows from remembering where God brought us from and recognizing that our lives are a grace-filled gift. By anchoring our joy in God's divine purpose rather than fleeting circumstances, we can offer a powerful "yet praise" in every season of life.

Themes

Thanksgiving in AdversityLiving SacrificeGod's PurposeGrace and SalvationServanthoodJoy and Hope

Pastor's Points

1.

He remembered what his life was like before he gave it to the Lord.

2.

He remembered that every breath that he took from the moment that God saved his life was a gift that he was going to use to spread life to someone else.

Key Points

1.
He remembered what his life was like before he gave it to the Lord.
2.
He remembered that every breath that he took from the moment that God saved his life was a gift that he was going to use to spread life to someone else.
3.
While love commands appear 11 times in Scripture, believers are admonished to give thanks at least 160 times, showing how essential deliberate gratitude is.
4.
The Apostle Paul continuously thanked God for others and encouraged believers while bound in prison chains and bearing physical scars from severe persecution.
5.
True life-changing gratitude arises from realizing that through God's mercy, you were given your life back when you could not save yourself.
6.
Entitlement and selfishness block thanksgiving, whereas recognizing oneself as a servant empowers living sacrifice and service to others.
7.
Remembering that God has placed divine purpose within us allows believers to maintain peace and offer praise regardless of external chaos.
8.

Sermon Moments

“Giving thanks does not come automatically or by reflex in times of adversity; if it were easy, Scripture would not have needed to command it over 160 times.”

“Paul wrote letters of encouragement and thanksgiving from a dark prison cell, choosing to lift up free believers while he remained in chains.”

“Out of ten lepers healed by Jesus, only one returned to give thanks—a Samaritan who realized he had just been handed his life back.”

“Deep gratitude flows from remembering the exact moment God stepped in and said, "Not today," when death or destruction stared you in the face.”

“We are not called to be served like aristocrats, but to serve like soldiers ministering God's grace to a hurting world.”

“Living a life of gratitude serves as the ultimate defense against hopelessness, despair, and depression.”

“A "yet praise" chooses to rejoice in God's salvation even when crops fail, bank accounts run dry, or circumstances collapse.”

This Week

Set aside dedicated time daily to praise and thank God, even when facing personal struggles or discouraging news.

Reflect on where God brought you from, remembering what your life was like before receiving His grace and mercy.

Shift your perspective from expecting to be served to actively serving others in your church and local community.

Meditate on Jeremiah 29:11 when facing adversity, trusting that God has thoughts of peace and a hope-filled future for you.

Offer a "yet praise" like Habakkuk, choosing to rejoice in God even when circumstances or resources seem exhausted.

Treat every day and every breath as a divine gift, using your life to spread hope and encouragement to those around you.

Express genuine gratitude to the people God places in your daily path, refusing to take others or their acts of service for granted.

Remember This

Living a life of thanksgiving through adversity comes from remembering what God saved you from and offering every breath back to Him as a living sacrifice of praise and purpose.

A Challenge for You

Decide today to move to a higher level of faith by living a life of gratitude, declaring that you will not let any struggle hold you back from God's purpose for your life.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.