How can we be thankful when things are a mess?

“Perfect,” I said to no one in particular on Saturday afternoon. “This is just perfect.” I got out of the car after I was rear-ended. The damage doesn’t seem too severe, and I’m thankful for that. The driver who hit me immediately owned it, and I’m thankful for that too.

But—and there’s always a “but”—it was yet another setback in a year filled with them.

I know I’m not alone in this of course. In fact, I’m sure that some of you reading this have experienced greater challenges that my fa...