Gratitude – The Secret Weapon

Engage in the powerful antidote when crisis or chaos hits

Every year around this time, I find myself drawn back to a familiar rhythm — pausing, reflecting, and writing about gratitude. These Thanksgiving messages have become part of my personal daily practice, because gratitude is something God continues to refine in me year after year. In past seasons, I’ve talked about gratitude as a choice, discipline, and a posture that shapes our hearts whether we’re standing on the mountaintop or walking through the valley or reeling in loss or crisis.

But this year, for me and my business, gratitude took on a whole different meaning.

2025 has been one of the most chaotic years I’ve experienced as an entrepreneur and leader. Between the significant DOGE government cuts early in the year and the historic, prolonged federal government shutdown, my company and the AvantGarde team faced uncertainty and strain in ways we had never encountered before. Contracts were abruptly cancelled, sometimes with only hours’ notice. Operations were stretched thin, and our people carried heavy loads emotionally, financially, and professionally. I felt that weight too — deeply. Let me be clear: a strong focus on government efficiency and oversight is both healthy and necessary. But in some cases, this process felt unplanned, raw, and painfully abrupt, leaving little to no runway for my team to land on their feet.

Rebecca and AvantGarde Leadership

Human nature reacts instinctively in times like these. When crisis hits, we shift into fight-or-flight mode. We tighten up. We get cynical. We brace for impact. We focus on what’s being lost rather than what can still be found. I’ve lived this long enough to know that chaos tries to distort our perspective before anything else. I’ve also spent nearly two decades serving the government as a consultant and contractor, so I understand that unplanned budget constraints and cuts are part of the territory. But this year was different — it was exceptionally challenging to navigate, and the stakes felt higher than ever.

A few weeks ago at Shoreline Austin, my pastor preached a message on gratitude that struck me right in the middle of all this chaos, loss, and noise. He reminded us that gratitude is not just a pleasant emotion or a feel-good sentiment — it is an intentional, spiritual response. And in seasons of challenge, gratitude actually becomes a pathway back to joy. Staying on mission and keeping the right mindset becomes the framework that gives us the perspective we need—not just to survive loss, but to truly thrive through it. 

That truth Pastor Rob Koke shared moved me in a way I wasn’t expecting. So much so that I knew I wanted to bring this message to you — my team, my community, and the people who lock arms with me every year.

Scripture tells us plainly:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

In all circumstances. Not just the easy ones, not just the predictable ones, not just the ones we feel prepared for. God calls us into a lifestyle of gratitude — especially in three distinct moments of life — and these have shaped my journey in profound ways.

The first is gratitude in the good times. Those seasons when blessings overflow, doors open, prayers are answered, and provision seems to show up before we even ask. Scripture reminds us in James 5:13 that when we are happy, we should sing songs of praise. Yet ironically, good times can be the easiest moments to forget the Source. Psalm 106 warns us, “They forgot the God who saved them…” And how often does success subtly shift our gaze?

I think about the blessings of the past 14 years at AvantGarde — the growth, the influence, the impact. I think about LaunchPad and Girls of Legacy, and how these programs have touched countless of lives. I think about my family, my husband, my children, my health, the calling God graciously entrusted to me. None of these were self-made. Every one of them was a gift. Gratitude keeps me centered on that truth — it protects me from spiritual amnesia.

But the second moment—gratitude in the tough times—is where the real stretching begins. Let’s be honest: thanking God in the middle of hardship feels upside down. Why express gratitude when you're walking through loss, uncertainty, or disappointment? How can a loving God feel present in the midst of so much chaos? The truth is, discouragement is often the enemy’s most effective tool. If he can pull us into a sunken stupor—fixated only on our pain or confusion—then he’s already won. But gratitude for God’s goodness breaks that grip. It lifts our eyes, shifts our focus, and disrupts the spiral. And while it’s not natural to be thankful for loss or chaos, it is life-changing to be thankful in spite of it.

Scripture gives us a powerful picture of this in Habakkuk 3:17–18 (NASB), where the prophet says that even if the fig tree doesn’t blossom and the fields bear no food — yet he will rejoice in the Lord. Gratitude in adversity doesn’t deny the pain; it declares that God is still present in it.

I’ve lived this many times — in the early LaunchPad years when resources were scarce and the path forward unclear, in seasons of personal and professional loss, and again this year as AvantGarde navigated the government shutdown with millions lost and rapid shifts across the federal landscape. Gratitude truly became my stabilizer. Even on the hardest days, it pulled me out of fear and into faith. It gave me clarity when circumstances tried to cloud my thinking. And as a leader, having the strength to model this posture of faith for my team has been crucial in keeping us steady as a company.

And then there’s the third moment — the daily, ordinary times. The mundane middle where most of life actually happens. The school drop-offs, the morning coffees, the simple routines, the familiar workdays, the dinners around the table. Romans 12:1 invites us to “take your everyday, ordinary life… and offer it to God.” Gratitude here is quiet, but powerful. It’s noticing the small blessings: a peaceful morning, a laugh with a coworker, safe travels, a warm meal, a kind word. Over the years, I’ve learned that gratitude doesn’t always need a dramatic moment — sometimes it’s just a pause. A breath. A whispered “thank You” in the middle of an ordinary Wednesday.

What amazes me is that modern science reinforces what God has been saying all along. The research is clear: gratitude literally transforms us. It boosts serotonin and dopamine — the chemicals responsible for our happiness. It lowers cortisol, the stress hormone that floods our body in crisis. It improves sleep, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, and helps ease pain. It enhances brain function in areas that control emotional regulation, memory, and decision-making. And relationally? Gratitude increases empathy, deepens connection, and fuels stronger, healthier relationships.

In other words, gratitude is not only spiritual — it’s biological. Because we are “made in the image of God,” He wired us to flourish when we practice thankfulness.

As I look back on 2025 — a year of stretching, refining, pruning, and deep faith — I can say with complete confidence that gratitude truly is the secret weapon. It has carried me through uncertain months, steadied my leadership, and reminded me over and over again that God is faithful in every season.

This Thanksgiving, my heart is full of gratitude: for our resilient AvantGarde team… for our loyal clients and partners who have stayed steady with us… for my family and my health… for the calling God’s placed on my life… and for His unchanging faithfulness, even in a year that tested me on every single level.

Rebecca and Family

My encouragement to you as you gather with loved ones this week is simple: choose gratitude on purpose. Start a list. Pause for a few minutes each day. Speak gratitude aloud to the people around you. Thank God not only for the blessings you see, but for the ones you don’t yet understand. Look for small joys. Honor the ordinary. Let gratitude reframe the rest of this year for you.

May this Thanksgiving bring you peace, clarity, joy, and renewed strength. May gratitude anchor your heart in the good times, sustain you in the hard times, and enrich your daily moments. And may it truly become your secret weapon — for the rest of 2025 and far beyond.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Rebecca

To stay in touch, be sure to subscribe to www.rebeccacontreras.com/subscribe or find Rebecca on social media through Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. To listen to the “Gratitude” message Rebecca referenced from Senior Pastor at Shoreline Austin, click here: https://shorelinechurch-tx.subspla.sh/sbh7mjs