The Mighty One Has Done Great Things: James’ Testimony of Gratitude and God’s Faithfulness

James had always equated blessing with achievement. Promotions, cars, a bigger house, these were the markers he chased to prove he had made it. For a while, he looked successful on the outside, but inside he felt more restless with every milestone.

James looked like he had it all, but inside he felt empty.

When the financial crash hit and his investments collapsed, James lost nearly everything he had built. Overnight, the trophies he had worked for seemed meaningless. He sank into depression, wondering if his life had any value left.

One Sunday, sitting in the back of church with his arms crossed, he heard the worship team singing about God’s faithfulness. He wanted to believe it, but all he could think was, “What great things has God done for me lately?”

That week, his sister invited him to dinner. During the meal, she shared her own testimony of God carrying her through cancer. She ended by quoting Luke 1:49. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me, holy is his name.”

The verse echoed in James’ mind for days. Slowly, he began to look back on his life with new eyes. He remembered being spared from a near-fatal car accident years earlier. He remembered the mentors God had placed in his path. He remembered his kids’ laughter, his health, and even the second chances he had been given.

For the first time in years, gratitude started replacing bitterness. James realized that God’s “great things” were not always material blessings. They were the quiet mercies that had carried him through seasons he thought he wouldn’t survive.

He started keeping a journal of daily gratitude, writing down at least three things each night. The list grew quickly: safety, friendships, answered prayers, strength for hard days. The more he wrote, the more he saw how present God had always been.

Months later, when he shared his testimony at a men’s gathering, James said through tears, “I used to measure my worth by what I had. Now I measure it by what He has done. And I can tell you this , the Mighty One has done great things for me.”

His story spread through the group, and men who were also struggling with disappointment found fresh hope. James had discovered that gratitude was not just a feeling. It was a weapon against despair.

Now, whenever James faces hardship, he looks back at his journal. The pages remind him of what is true: God’s name is holy, and His goodness has never failed.

What “great thing” from God are you most thankful for today?

• His protection
• His provision
• His forgiveness
• His presence