A Message from Troy
May 2026
Dear Friend,
I want to be grateful. I really do!
God has been pressing into my struggle to trust Him and the self-protective ways I manage anxiety. I am learning that when trust in God weakens, gratitude decreases and my desire for control grows stronger. I try harder, plan more, and carry burdens I was never meant to bear. I might even get a little irritable (slight understatement).
The truth is, gratitude becomes difficult when trust gives way to fear and control.
I am not an ungrateful person, but sometimes I become consumed by what is painful, uncertain, disappointing, or unfinished. My attention naturally drifts toward problems, losses, and responsibilities. I replay what’s wrong while overlooking the countless evidence of grace that quietly surrounds me.
I suspect I am not alone in this.
Recently, in the middle of what has felt like one of the busiest six weeks of the year, Melissa and I traveled to Houston for Mother’s Day. Deadlines remained. Responsibilities continued. Problems were still there. Yet my eyes and my heart shifted away from my fears and the burdens I struggle to entrust to God each day. Instead, I was able to see the gifts, blessings, and abundant reasons to be grateful.
I held my granddaughter, Abigail. I watched my daughter and son-in-law lead their family with wisdom and grace. Spending time with my 93-year-old parents and celebrating my mother on Mother’s Day gave me a renewed perspective. I thought about those who have poured into the work of HopeQuest through prayer, generosity, encouragement, and sacrifice. I reflected on opportunities I never earned and relationships I certainly did not deserve.
I wondered if gratitude is less about having more… and more about recognizing what has already been given.
Perhaps gratitude is more than an emotion. Maybe it’s a posture of the heart.
Throughout Scripture, gratitude is closely linked to remembrance. Human beings are prone to forgetfulness. We overlook God’s faithfulness in previous seasons and become fearful in our present circumstances. We lose sight of His provision and focus on scarcity. We overlook God’s healing and dwell on fear. Gratitude, in many ways, is the discipline of remembrance.
I am learning there are several practices that help cultivate gratitude, especially in seasons marked by anxiety or uncertainty:
- Gratitude grows as trust grows. It is difficult to remain grateful while believing everything rests on our shoulders. Gratitude deepens when we trust that God is present, good, and actively working, even in painful or unresolved circumstances. Trust enables us to loosen our grip.
- Gratitude requires attention. We tend to see what we train ourselves to notice. If my mind constantly searches for problems, I will always find them. But if I intentionally look for evidence of God’s kindness, I begin to recognize His goodness in everyday moments. Gratitude flourishes when we focus our attention on ordinary gifts.
- Gratitude deepens in relationships. Some of the richest moments of gratitude are tied to relationships: family, friendships, mentors, supporters, colleagues, spouses, children, and, of course, grandbabies. Gratitude reminds us that we need one another. Humbly receiving the encouragement and care of others fosters thankfulness.
- Gratitude and pain can coexist. Being grateful does not mean pretending difficult things are not difficult. Scripture never asks us to deny grief. Gratitude simply means pain does not become the only story we tell. We can hold sorrow in one hand and thanksgiving in the other.
- Gratitude is practiced before it is felt. Often, we wait to feel thankful before expressing gratitude. In reality, gratitude becomes an experience because we choose to practice it first through prayer, remembrance, worship, and simply naming what is good.
I am continuing to learn what it means to live with gratitude and trust. I still drift toward worry, self-protection, and scarcity. I still struggle to trust God despite the myriad ways He has been faithful. But I am beginning to believe gratitude is one of God’s invitations to move away from fear and back into trusting Him.
Gratitude is not dependent on life being easy. It is rooted in the faithfulness of God… and His faithfulness is worth remembering.
Grateful…
Troy Haas
Chief Executive Officer
The HopeQuest Ministry Group