As I read and reread the Scriptures, whether it be the Old Testament or New Testament, I am both inspired and convicted by the gratitude of those who know God. I am inspired by the countless men and women in God’s story who exude gratitude regardless of their situation or circumstance. And I am convicted because there is often a deep correlation between my gratitude and the season of life I find myself in.
What I’ve learned over the years is that if my gratitude is not rooted and founded in God alone – then gratitude will be something I think about once a year… usually in November.
Gratitude is not so much an emotion that I feel when things in life are working in my favor. Rather, gratitude is a decision to simply say ‘thank you.’ It does not seem all that complicated, but if gratitude is seen most clearly in our ability to simply and frequently say ‘thank you’, well, I’m quite certain that I’ve got a long way to go in growing in gratitude… how about you?
Typically, saying thank you is reserved for when people go above and beyond to demonstrate their care and concern for us. Whether it’s a kind word, a generous gift or a helping hand, it’s absolutely appropriate to say ‘thank you.’ But what happens when people are not going above and beyond? What happens when the kind words are lacking, the gifts are not coming and the helping hands are not present? If gratitude or saying ‘thank you’ is connected solely to what others are doing for us, then I fear that gratitude will be lacking if not missing from our lives. And if I’m understanding gratitude correctly in Scripture, those who know God should be the most grateful people on the planet.
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
Many often wonder, if not struggle to know what God’s will is for our lives. Well, the longer I sit with God’s Story, and the men and women in God’s Story, I’m convinced that a life marked by gratitude is a life well on it’s way to encountering and experiencing God every step of the way.
When our gratitude is rooted in God, I can be grateful in all circumstances…
- I can say thank you when I feel alone, because in Christ, I am never alone.
- I can say thank you for pain, suffering, and hardship, because I know that Christ will use all of my suffering for God’s glory, my good and the benefit of those around me.
- I can say thank you when things don’t go my way, because in Christ, the plan of God is being perfectly executed every moment of everyday.
- I can say thank you when I feel hurt by those I’ve loved most, because in Christ, I have received freely an abundance of grace and love to give to those who need it most.
- I can say thank you when ALL seems right in my small world, because in Christ, everything I have is not a reward for what I’ve done, but another demonstration of God’s amazing grace towards me.
The key to living a life of gratitude (saying thank you) is not so much living with eyes wide open to all the good we have in our lives (although that’s very helpful), but living every moment of every day in Christ. As I grow closer to Jesus, my awareness of just how much I have to be grateful for grows.
God has given me much to say thank you for in my life – an amazing wife, three incredible kids that call me dad, extended family that supports, encourages and loves me unconditionally, and the MOST inspiring church community that is trusting God to do immeasurably more in our midst… these are just a few of the things that I can say thank you for. But my gratitude is not rooted in things or the people that God has given to me. My gratitude is rooted in God whose given Himself to me in Jesus Christ. I’ve got a long way to go on the journey of gratitude, but in Christ, I am grateful… in Christ, I can say thank you every day as if its Thanksgiving.
