Recently I was listening to a podcast conversation from a secular source that was talking about practicing gratitude. They mentioned the physiological and psychological benefits of intentionally remembering things to be grateful for. One person said she strives for 100 “gratitudes” per day. That’s all well and good, but during the discussion I kept wondering who they were expressing their gratitude to if they held no belief in God. It’s fine to be thankful for indoor plumbing, a bed to sleep in, food on the table, and all the people who make those things possible. But when an atheist sees a beautiful flower in the woods, where should gratitude be directed? One might say, “I’m thankful for that flower,” but thanksgiving implies a source, not simply a happy thought.
As Christians we know that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17a), and we should be grateful for all good things. Yet at the same time we know that God’s blessings to us don’t all carry the same weight. The privileges of living in the Western world are nice, but they can’t really be compared to the eternal benefits of faith, salvation, sanctification, and adoption into God’s family. Just a few verses earlier James had written, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (1:2-4). Termites or plumbing failures, though they may test our patience, aren’t really a trial of faith when compared to the trials endured by our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). Even if we agree that “in all circumstances” doesn’t mean the same thing as “for all circumstances,” this may be one of the hardest commands in Scripture. (Or is it just me?) When it seems like everything in life is going wrong, it is incredibly hard to find reasons for gratitude-- except for the eternal perspective that one day all these trials will cease. That is the perspective that Peter adopts in 1 Peter 1:3-9: Because of Jesus Christ we have an eternal inheritance, and we know that the testing of our faith now will result in “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” We can give thanks for that hope regardless of what’s going on in this life.
I’ve been reading the book of Job lately, and after his statement, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21b), there’s a pretty steady stream of lamentation. However, Job’s thoughts keep returning to his Redeemer and that day when he will finally see God (13:15, 19:25-26, etc.). He doesn’t try to remember little things to be grateful for, but he clings to the one thing that really matters: his eternal hope. It is God’s love that matters most and for that we give thanks. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chron. 16:34).
This has become a recurring theme in my blog posts because I have to keep reminding myself that today’s challenges will one day end. It may not be this month or this year or even in this lifetime that a change comes to the painful circumstances of life, but there is a guaranteed ending of trials and tears on that final Day that our Father has established. I am grateful for the certainty of that hope.
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29).
© 2023 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
