My dad had a really annoying life philosophy. He contended that we should actually be thankful in every situation. Yup, he took I Thessalonians 5:18 seriously.
You may be wondering why I say this is an annoying life philosophy since so many people spend a month each year expressing gratitude. This seems like a good thing to most people. And it is. It’s just really annoying when you’re reminded to be thankful in situations you don’t particularly care for.
Does anyone care for poor health, job loss, or relational conflict? I doubt it. I certainly don’t, so when someone tells me to be thankful during a hard situation, it feels like rubbing a wound with salt and lemon juice.
Unfortunately, this feeling doesn’t change what the Bible says.
Losing, Learning, Leaning
As you may have suspected, my dad learned this lesson of thankfulness the hard way. His story was one of contracting cerebral malaria, a bunch of other tropical diseases, losing three and a half inches of height, and relearning to walk. It was a crazy journey that humbled him and taught him how much he needed to lean on God.
How else would we learn to be thankful unless we experience loss, heartache, or frustration of some sort? It is in those moments that you begin to understand what is most important in life and where all blessings are from.
Ultimately, these situations are meant to bring God into focus.
An Argument for Thankfulness
And this is where the concept of thankfulness gets interesting. The Bible says that giving thanks is God’s will for us (ref. I Thess. 5:18). So if you are asking God to reveal his will for your life, you can begin here.
Beyond it being God’s will for our lives, thankfulness is a preventative measure against pride and foolishness. Romans 1:21 lists a lack of thanksgiving as a step toward destruction. So, perhaps we should take more time to express our gratitude to God and others.
Expressing gratitude is also a way to keep bitterness at bay. If you stay thankful, even when it’s painful, you will actually heal faster and better. If you allow bitterness to settle in, you are going to feel its effect. I doubt you will like those consequences.
Not only does thankfulness defend you from some negative things, but it also gives you something amazing — peace that you can’t understand. That’s a pretty good benefit if I do say so myself.
Four Suggestions
Here are the steps I take when I face a painful time and don’t want to express gratitude. Sometimes I have to rinse and repeat, but these steps have always been a part of the healing process in my experience.
- Read the Psalms. The psalmists were experts at dealing with painful stuff and they expressed their emotions in the most poetic and relatable words. When I do this step, I realize I’m not the only person who has experienced emotional pain. It helps to know you’re not alone.
- Remember the ways God has helped you in the past. This is a matter of focus. You are going to have to choose to think about past victories rather than your current problems (it can be done). You can think about them in your head, verbalize them out loud, write them down, or discuss them with a trusted friend. I guarantee these memories will uplift your spirit.
- Listen to encouraging voices*. You are what you eat doesn’t just apply to food. Whatever you put into your mind is what will sink into your heart. Guard your heart diligently.
- Limit complaints. I am all for expressing your emotions and not repressing them. Refer to suggestion number one if you doubt me. But, I must admit that the more I complain and the more people who know about my problems, the more difficult it is to heal. By constantly speaking about my problems, I reiterate to myself and all those around me that my problems are a defining feature of my life and personality. Eventually, I cannot separate myself from my pain, and therefore, I must keep speaking about it to dull it. It feels a little like an addiction.
Conclusion
Ephesians 2:10 explains that God has planned good works for each of his children. It also shows that he is preparing each of his children to complete those preplanned good works. I would contend that developing a lifestyle of thankfulness is one of the steps in becoming who God wants us to be so we can accomplish what God wants us to do.
With this perspective in view, I’m rather thankful my dad consistently voiced his annoying life philosophy.
*Some of my favorite encouraging voices are:
