When something bad happens to us (or to someone we know), God doesn’t ask us to pretend it wasn’t evil, or to act as if it didn’t happen. Evil is real, and bad things do happen to us—even if we can’t always explain them. The Bible says that life is uncertain and at times “men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them” (Ecclesiastes 9:12).

But one of the Bible’s greatest truths is that God is able to bring good even out of evil. This doesn’t make the situation good or easy—but it does mean God is with us, and we can take comfort in that truth. In other words, even in hard times we can look in faith to God, and ask Him to help us and encourage us. And when we know He is with us, we truly can be thankful.

Do you remember all the difficulties the Apostle Paul faced? Repeatedly he was persecuted for his faith, and was even put in prison for extended periods of time. And yet his faith grew deeper because of those trials, and they taught him to trust God in every situation. That’s why he could say, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).

God knows what you are going through right now, and He knows how overwhelming it all seems. But God has not abandoned you! Commit your lives and your future to Christ, and ask Him to help you draw closer to Him during these difficult days.