Introduction

Last Thursday, the United States celebrated Thanksgiving, a holiday that is observed every year. It is good to pause and recognize the blessings and favors that the Lord has granted us. Let me share a story to illustrate the importance of gratitude.

A woman was waiting for her connecting flight one night at an airport, with several hours to spare. She went to a vendor and bought a book and a pack of cookies, then found a place to sit. Engrossed in her book, she noticed a man sitting next to her who shamelessly took one or two cookies from her pack. She tried not to make a fuss to avoid an argument. She continued reading, eating cookies, and checking her watch, while the swift "cookie thief" kept helping himself.

As the minutes passed, the woman couldn't help but grow increasingly angry, thinking, "If I were someone else, I would have given this scoundrel a piece of my mind." Every time she took a cookie, he would take another. When only one cookie remained, she thought, "Let's see what this guy does now." With a smile on his face and a nervous chuckle, the man took the last cookie and split it in half. He offered her one part while he ate the other. She snatched her half and thought, "This guy is incredibly audacious. Why can't he show at least some gratitude?"

The woman couldn't believe that there were such rude people, and she sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and left without even looking at the "ungrateful thief." As she settled into her seat on the plane, she suddenly exclaimed in astonishment: her pack of cookies was right in front of her eyes. "If my pack is here, then those other cookies were his, and he was trying to share with me. Too late to apologize." She had been the rude, ungrateful thief. Similarly, we often take God's "cookies," thinking they are ours, and we are ungrateful towards Him.

Although the Bible is clear, it is still difficult to obey. Paul says: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV). These words are challenging for many people.

Why does God command us to give thanks in every circumstance?

Firstly, God wants us to give thanks in good times because it promotes His glory and cultivates humility in us. We all have a tendency to take credit for the good things that God does. Giving thanks in good times reminds us that every perfect gift comes from above. Just as we call an ungrateful child "ill-mannered," we must give thanks in good times to acknowledge that all blessings come from the Lord.

We should give thanks in good times because it helps us appreciate what we have received. A person who constantly complains and never gives thanks fails to recognize the richness of life. When we take time to count our blessings, reflect on the wonderful blessings of the Lord, we appreciate life more intensely.

Why can we be thankful to God in difficult times?

Let's be honest. When tragic times strike, there doesn't seem to be much to be thankful for. Should we thank God for a heart attack? Should we thank Him for the illness that is taking away a loved one? Should we be glad that the world is falling apart? Of course not. It is normal to feel hurt. It is right to confess our pain and even our anger. God does not ask us to pretend. He does not ask us to say that painful things are good. What He wants is for us to acknowledge that He is good. There are many things to be grateful for in the midst of pain.

A. We give thanks for having a God who works above circumstances. This is certainly a statement of faith. In the midst of devastating circumstances, we often do not see God's hand working in our favor. It seems futile to quote verses that speak of God working for our good. All evidence seems to tell us that the situation is not good, at least from our perspective.

B. We give thanks for the hope that goes beyond the grave. How can people who think that life is only what they can see survive? The Bible tells us that when we die, we will be with the Lord. We are told about a home prepared by the Lord. We will receive bodies that will never wear out or get sick. We will be reunited with our loved ones who have already died. And we will be with Jesus. Heaven is described as a place where things considered precious in this life—gold, silver, precious stones—are common. It is a reminder that this life is nothing compared to the splendor of the coming world. Heaven is described as a place of joy, singing, and celebration.

C. We give thanks to God for the Savior who made this hope possible. We must give thanks for God's plan to save us. We must give thanks for the child in the manger, the Savior on the cross, the risen Lord, and the coming King. We must give thanks to Jesus Christ in every circumstance because He is the reason for our hope. It is faith in Him that has made us new. It is faith in His provision that gives us eternal life.

D. We give thanks for the supernatural strength that helps us overcome tribulation. We give thanks for a God who truly understands our pain. We are told that Jesus "suffered our pain." He knew what it meant to be rejected. He knew what it meant to be tempted. He knew what it meant to lose a loved one. Many believe that Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, died when he was still young. Jesus knew what it meant to be misunderstood. He knew what it meant to be hurt. And Jesus knows us. No one understands us like He does.

We give thanks for the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. We give thanks because we have a God who is closer than a brother. He listens when we need to vent. He understands when there are no words. He gives us strength when we have none.

Why are we often negligent in giving thanks to God in good times?

When things are going well, it is easy to take them for granted. We fail to appreciate the little things. Blessings are expected rather than received with gratitude. Have you ever thought about how many things we take for granted every day? Why do we do this? Here are some ideas:

1. Sometimes we are negligent in giving thanks because we feel that we have earned what we have. We have worked hard, and things have turned out well. It seems like our blessings are the result of our goodness. We don't need to give thanks because we have earned everything we have. This attitude is very dangerous.

2. Sometimes we are negligent in giving thanks because we are too ambitious, always wanting more. We are too busy looking at what we would like instead of thanking God for what we have. We don't give thanks for what we have: a home, land, parents who love us, a cozy home, siblings, food, educational opportunities, a Christian environment, a church, a divine pastor, and a human pastor.

3. Sometimes we are negligent in giving thanks because we take what we have for granted. When was the last time you gave thanks for the simple things? When was the last time you thanked God for His forgiveness, His grace, His guiding and empowering Spirit? When was the last time you thanked God for the Bible, for those teachers whom God has brought into your life? When was the last time you thanked God for the church and the people sitting beside you? We have become too accustomed to His grace. Giving thanks helps us not to take blessings for granted.

When we fail to give thanks to God in good times, we lose the ability to recognize that there are good times. We should not need a tragedy to wake us up to the reality that there are good things around us. James says that every good and perfect gift is from above.

Conclusion

We must give thanks in all circumstances. To do so, let me offer some suggestions:

- When you arrive home, slowly look around your house and notice the things you should be thankful for. Look at the photographs and thank God for the beautiful memories they represent. Notice the things that have been given to you and thank God for the blessing of those friendships. Look at the things you have in your home and thank God for what you have.

- At some point, make a list of all the things about God's character that you should be thankful for. Remember where you were when He changed your life. Remember the moments of crisis when you thought you wouldn't make it, but you did. Remember the spiritual lessons that have changed your life.

- Thank those you love. Try to be specific. You may need to pay a visit.

- As you sit at the table on this day, look around the table. Look at the faces around you, not the food yet. Express your gratitude to them.

- Remind yourself and those around you that the Lord is good, His love endures forever, and His faithfulness never ends. Remember the good times and the bad, and then look to the future when all our tears will be wiped away, pain will be gone forever, and the smile of Jesus will fill us with joy.

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