Father, we thank you today for the unaccountable ways that you direct our lives in hard seasons, especially those seasons where we reach the end of self. We thank you and praise you for your Holy Spirit that ministers to us,  helping us to change both our situation and our outlook.  We also give thanks and praise for those times when you redeem us even from circumstances brought on by our own willful, misguided actions that merit your punishment more than your grace.  In the end, thank you for your patience with our imperfection and your readiness to forgive.  We are grateful that you are our dependable source, hope, and refuge in the face of life’s hard seasons.