Tag Archives: thankfulness

You Can Find Something to Be Thankful For

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I’ve always struggled with seeing thankfulness as a greeting card sentiment.

Today I read the way Jesus modeled thanksgiving in his life, and I recall that nothing Jesus did can really be considered flimsy or powerless.

Last week I wrote about the frustration that comes with hearing an “old answer” – when you’ve been in a particular trench for a long time but the next person has nothing but the same old advice. I got it again Wednesday. I’ve been grasping at the humility of accepting such words even if I want to hear something else, even if I don’t know what that something else is. And my own words come round to me.

There were many times Jesus spoke words of acceptance, healing, and love. Easy to hear, life to the soul. Better than we could have imagined.

But there were also times he simply blew right past the perspectives of his hearers and offered his Father’s perspective.

And he didn’t just do it to the Pharisees. Everyone, including his own disciples and “those who followed him”, got his perspective, often bluntly, whether they wanted it or not. He didn’t coddle. He didn’t equivocate. He didn’t massage Scripture (Matt. 22:29, John 5:39). He told them what they needed to hear. Take it or leave it. If they were on board, even if only partially, he let them know of his gladness (Mark 10:21, 12:34).

Jesus is not who we want him to be. He is who he is.

We can trust that this is good.

So today…I will be thankful. Even though my heart and mind are struggling to be.

I can walk without excruciating back or knee pain.

I have a roof over my head.

I have the best mother in the world.

I have a paid off vehicle.

I have eternal life in Jesus Christ and, in him, a friend who brings his power into my life.

Another hammer of the nail into the palm of my immaturity and disobedience.

Don’t Resist Gratitude

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Don’t fall for the lie that supports your discontent: that gratitude is a cliche.

That “counting your blessings” is a wispy, Hallmark-level cop-out thrown out there to distract you from how you’re really feeling about things.

That it’s God’s consolation prize given in place of just fixing your problems.

That it’s God’s passive-aggressive way of telling you he’s not concerned with your struggles.

A grateful posture this Thanksgiving really can do you enormous favors.

It can calm the storm in your heart. I mean, how wonderful would it be to go an entire day emotionally ironclad, completely unperturbed by anything going on in your life?

It can make you more attractive to people. Gratitude shows on your face. It gets people wondering how you do it, how you maintain an attitude of thankfulness in the serenity while everyone else rags Jesus about how the boat’s being swamped.

It can drive worry, fear, and overthinking out of your heart.

It can actually get you closer to your goals, as all of the above benefits are conducive to moving forward.

But most of all, it acknowledges God. It serves as defiance against despair, a down payment of the victory to come. It bears witness to his supreme goodness, gives him the praise he deserves, and fulfills our life’s purpose by giving him glory.

When God leads you to be grateful this week, don’t hear “Stop pestering me with your problems”. That’s the enemy souring his words. God has heard. The only question is whether we will be grateful in the meantime.

After all, the poorest, loneliest, sickest citizen of his kingdom has more to be grateful for than earth’s richest, most beloved man.