I’m a normal person, with a normal life. My situations are not more difficult than those of the people around me. So why is it that I’m so often tempted to be unthankful for the situations of daily life? Why is it so hard to get up and go to work with a joyful heart on Monday morning? Why is it so hard to be thankful?
Thankfulness doesn’t come naturally …
It is because I have a sinful nature in which there is nothing good, like the apostle Paul says in Romans 7:18 (NLT): “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.”
That must have been a difficult thing for him to admit – that there was nothing good in his nature; that when he reacted according to his human nature, it was wrong every time. But that is the truth for every human being. I have a proud, sinful nature that makes me think far too highly of myself, that makes me think that I deserve better. And that is why I find myself tempted to complain about the normal, everyday situations of life instead of being thankful.
What is the solution? I understand that there’s nothing good in my human nature. If it just ended there, it would have been hopeless. But no! The apostle Paul had another wonderful revelation which he writes about in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT); he says “that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
We also find this promise of God in Isaiah 43:19 (NLT), “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Thankful for God’s plan for my life
God has big plans for us! He knows all about my corrupt human nature, but He still promises to make something completely new out of me! And how can He make something new? By sending me circumstances that He designed just for me, so that I learn to keep His commandments. (Psalm 119:71, Job 42:5.)
When I really understand and see this, then I have no reason to be unthankful. God loves me so much that He sends me these situations in order to free me from the sin in my human nature and to teach me to become like Jesus. (Romans 8:28,29.) That should make me extremely thankful!
God doesn’t just send a difficult situation on my way and then leaves me. No, He has given me His Word, which is a tremendous “weapon” to fight against unthankfulness and every other sin. Just look at this verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT): “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Be thankful in all circumstances. That’s a commandment from God! And God is not unrighteous. He won’t give us a commandment that He knows we can’t keep. So then it must be possible for me to always be thankful. He didn’t say, “in everything give thanks, except when something truly bad happens to you. Then you have every right to complain or get offended.”
If I keep this commandment, I can always be happy! It means that not a single situation can steal my thankfulness or my joy! I can be joyful and thankful in every single trial and test that God sends. What a weapon!
The disciples were thankful
In the book of Acts, we read a story about some of Jesus’ disciples. They were arrested for preaching in the city, they were beaten and ordered to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. But read what happened:
“The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.” Acts 5:41 (NLT).
These men had just been beaten unrighteously! That’s a harder trial than my small daily trials. But the disciples used thankfulness as a weapon against self-pity and becoming discouraged. They praised God that He wanted to use them for His work on earth, and they went right back to preaching the gospel of Jesus.
With this weapon of thankfulness in my hand, I can say No whenever I’m tempted to be unthankful. When bad or difficult things happen, I can learn to trust in God. With this new way of reacting to things, my life can totally change!
Take up this weapon of thankfulness and all your dark days will be over. Praise God for what He does for us!
More verses to use as weapons of thankfulness:
"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." Colossians 3:15 (NLT).
"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NCV).
“We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, because that was his plan." Romans 8:28 (NCV).