“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
I am not a naturally grateful person.
It is easy to thank the stranger who held the door for me, repeatedly thank the teacher who helped my child learn math, or thank my family for once again forgiving me for burning supper. But a general sense of, “Oh, how blessed I am,” doesn’t come naturally; shamefully, I find it easier to think of the things I don’t have or how life could be better than of my many blessings.
Most people find it easy to show gratitude when someone has done something kind, helped them, or at the very least cut them some slack. But having a general sense of gratefulness is harder. Can you relate to one of these situations?
We thank the server for bringing us our meal, but we neglect to give God glory for the ways He provides for us daily.
We thank the plumber for fixing our leaky faucet but don’t thank the Lord for providing the funds to make the repairs.
We thank our boss for the bonus but don’t remember to lift up praise to the Lord for providing us with gifts and talents and the opportunity to work.
A few years ago, during the month of November, I participated in a gratitude challenge. Every day, we had to write down 5 things we were thankful for, no repeating items, and each couldn’t relate to the other. Easy, right?
I did pretty well the first week, but turning into week two, I was struggling. Truthfully, I was embarrassed that I couldn’t think of five unique things each day to be thankful for. The problem was not that I didn’t have enough to be grateful. Instead, I had so much that I couldn’t even see how the Lord had blessed me.
My sense of blessing or gratitude was focused on what I could see, the stuff around me, the people, the tangible items that made my life “better.” In my narrow focus, I’d forgotten about the source of these gifts. When I think about our key verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, it is easy to wonder how we can be thankful for our circumstances, especially if we only look to the things we can see that are good in our lives as a measure of our gratitude.
But, what this verse shares is that gratitude is a lifestyle, a heart’s position, not items or actions. Yes, we can be grateful for people and stuff, but a thankful heart doesn’t depend on our circumstances or the things that we believe make our lives better.
When we focus on our eternal blessings, living with the knowledge that no matter what is going on, those who have believed in Christ are a new creation, it's easy to wake up each day overflowing with gratitude. God loved this world so much that He sent His only Son to take the penalty for sinners, me, you, the world. I am guilty of not thanking the Lord daily for this sacrifice; my life should exude gratitude because my soul has been saved for all eternity. Yet, far too often, I allow something as silly as a cold cup of coffee to determine my thankfulness for the day.
As we gather with our families in the upcoming holidays, we should think more deeply about what we are grateful for. Let’s move past the trivial, instead embracing the many blessings, God’s divine providence, and His gift of salvation as our “most- thankful for “ this Thanksgiving.
Heavenly Father, thank you, two simple words that don’t adequately express the immense gratitude we have for the gift of eternal life. Please forgive us when we fail to see how You bless the righteous and the unrighteous. We ask that You direct us to lead lives filled with gratefulness, happy hearts, and joy in all circumstances. We love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply biblical truths to their lives. Her recent book, Embracing Eternity in the Here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes help us live more peaceful, purposeful, and plentiful lives today.
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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