The paint industry is experiencing one of its biggest palette shifts in twenty years. The cold, sterile “flipper gray” and stark black-and-white minimalist interiors that dominated the 2010s are giving way to warmer, richer colors.
Herbal and mossy greens, along with deep forest shades, are becoming the new neutrals. Smoky espresso and moody darks are finding their place, too. Rather than painting small rooms bright white to make them appear larger, homeowners are embracing the cozy feel of dens, offices, and dining rooms wrapped in dark, dramatic tones.
Here in Montana, many of us can't relate. Our walls are made of logs! Besides, we're an independent bunch who don't pay much attention to what's trending.
But there's one thing that will never go out of style here: thanking God for our Montana way of life.
We thank Him for our snow-covered peaks. In winter, we ski on them; in summer, their melting snow provides abundant water to grow the hay that feeds our livestock through the long winter months.
We thank Him for our wildlife and the opportunity to hunt, providing venison and other game to fill our freezers. And we thank God for a culture that respects worship, plays Christian music in our stores, and brings tears to our eyes when God Bless America is played.
Across America, not just in Montana, we have so much to be thankful for, especially at Thanksgiving. We enjoy an abundance of blessings many people around the world can only dream of.
But what about the days when gratitude doesn't come easily?
The band for KING + COUNTRY offers a recipe for those difficult moments when worry overwhelms us, our minds feel clouded, and our hearts grow weary. Their song “Thank God” reminds us that sometimes, the best thing we can do is simply say, “Thank God.”
We all face confusing seasons, unanswered prayers, difficult roads, and moments when God's answer seems to be “not yet.”
However, in 1 Chronicles 29:13 we are reminded: “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”
When life stalls and God's answer feels like “not yet,” praising Him becomes an act of faith. It shifts our focus from present disappointments to His unchanging character and sovereignty. Praise reminds us God is still on the throne and at work, even when we cannot see the path ahead.
One thing that has helped me when life hits hard is to declare God's goodness out loud. When my emotions feel heavy, I speak His truth over my circumstances.
I especially love Habakkuk 3:17–19 where the prophet describes a devastating season: no fruit on the fig trees, no grapes on the vines, failing olive crops, empty fields, and no sheep or cattle in the pens. And yet, Habakkuk makes a remarkable declaration:
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” His circumstances hadn't changed, but his decision to trust God had.
So today, no matter what colors God is painting across the canvas of your life, thank Him for the highs and the lows. Gratitude isn't dependent on everything going our way; it's rooted in the One who remains faithful through it all.
When you don't know what else to say, start with two simple words: Thank God.
