Gratitude stands as one of Scripture’s most vital yet frequently neglected themes. Psalm 103 opens with a stirring thought: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” These words encourage us to intentionally direct our hearts toward thankfulness to God for every blessing He has poured out. When we cultivate this thankful heart, we find the ability to focus on His gifts rather than drift into the habit of ungrateful complaining.
Why do we so often emphasize the negative even when affirming something good? A friend compliments a truck, and the reply comes, “Yeah, it’s barely chugging along.” Someone admires a dress, only to hear, “Oh, this old thing? I want something more trendy.” A sermon is praised, yet the preacher responds, “It was awful—I couldn’t get in a good flow.” Such responses reveal how easily we take for granted the very things for which we ought to give thanks. I’m thankful to have a vehicle, nice clothes, and to have the ability to preach. Other’s compliments show that I ought to respond in a grateful way instead of turning to the negative.
Life for the unthankful person often hardens into bitterness. By contrast, a soul that echoes gratitude remains soft toward God and open to His goodness. True thankfulness flows from genuine faith. Those who refuse to believe can never fully give thanks. Romans 1:20-21 declares that although God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen in creation, people “did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights (Jas. 1:17). If we withhold thanks, do we truly believe that all good things come from His hand? A poor response to God usually signals a poor faith in God. Jesus illustrated this truth in the healing of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). All ten were cleansed, and surely all felt relief. Yet only one returned to glorify God with thanksgiving. “Where are the nine?” the Lord asked. One of life’s great tragedies occurs when a Christian, through weakened faith, becomes unthankful toward the God who has redeemed him.
The psalmist’s call reaches deeper still: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.” Praise must rise from the depths of our being. We are to abound more and more in the Christian life, offering God everything we are and have because He is worthy (1 Thess. 4:1). Having been crucified with Christ, we live no longer for ourselves but for the One who loved us (Gal. 2:20).
“Think” and “thank” share the same Anglo-Saxon root. The things we deliberately think about will affect our thankfulness. We thank God for Bibles, for the building where we meet, for teachers, song leaders, and fellow believers. We thank Him for forgiveness, redemption, the knowledge of truth, and His unfailing mercy and grace. However, we too easily remember the large gifts while overlooking the small everyday mercies we take for granted. In private prayer we can move beyond generalities—“Thank You for our Christian family”—and name specific brothers and sisters and why we are thankful for them.
Consistency builds the habit. An illustration from West Africa might help: the miracle berry, or taste berry, alters a person’s perception so that even sour fruit becomes sweet for hours afterward. When the heart is filled with gratitude, nothing seems too unpleasant or overbearing. Thankfulness does not remove struggles, yet it enables us to bear them in a Christian manner. A sorrowful heart can sweeten its grief with gratitude. A burdened soul can lighten its load by singing God’s praises. The disappointed can dispel heartache by making others grateful for them. The sick can grow strong in spirit, thanking God for spiritual health. Have we shown our appreciation to God for all He has done? Let us never forget the greatest gift—the salvation provided through Christ. May our souls continually echo with thankful praise.
-Ross Haffner