Gratitude and thankfulness are easy to overlook.

It’s a perverse part of our nature to gravitate toward the negative, to bemoan the fact that things aren’t going as we wish they would. Whining, complaining? That comes easy. But to count our blessings, to show gratitude and thankfulness – that can be challenging.

My contention is that forgetting gratitude and thankfulness erodes our very souls. If we want to cultivate hope in perfectly awful days, we can do better.

As Christians, we have to be mindful that God is sovereign over all things. I mean, dang – I can act as though things are out of control, and in reality, they never are. Never.

Everything that happens to us is ultimately for our good and His glory. If we could embrace that – and that’s something we all already know – we’d have a deep sense of gratitude and thankfulness, even when circumstances would lead us to curl up in a ball.

So, beloved, let’s ponder six reasons why gratitude and thankfulness are essential for cultivating hope. This’ll preach.

All my points are going to be pretty self-evident. Don’t look for any earth-shattering revelations. We’re back to basics today.

1 – Gratitude and thankfulness remind us of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

When we’re grateful, we focus on the blessings in our lives rather than the difficulties. This is a great perspective to have; it helps us remember that God is good and that He has been faithful to us in the past.

The Bible tells us that God is good, and everything He does is good (Psalm 119:68). When we focus on what we have instead of what we lack, we begin to see the abundance of blessings God has given us.

The Israelites could teach whining on a collegiate level. In Exodus, these folks were wandering around in the desert complaining about their circumstances. (Of course, we’d never be guilty of such a thing.) God says, “Aight, folks, here’s your manna. Here’s your quail. Nowquitcherbellyachin.”

God provided in short order. Think He won’t provide for us, too? Philippians 4:6-7, right? There’s a path to gratitude and thankfulness right there.

2 – Thankfulness and gratitude help us to focus on what we have, rather than what we lack.

This is a companion thought to that first point, and another facet of gratitude and thankfulness. When we’re grateful for what we have, we’re less likely to focus on what we don’t have. That perspective helps us to be content with our current circumstances, even if they aren’t ideal. Believe that?

Contentment is an essential ingredient for cultivating hope. It allows us to trust that God is working all things together for our good.

The apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12.) Paul’s contentment was rooted in his gratitude for the Lord’s provision, and it enabled him to have hope in the midst of difficult circumstances. Take that, complainers!

3 – Gratitude and thankfulness help us cultivate joy.

When it comes to gratitude and thankfulness, those values lead to joy. Every single time. What powerful tools!

The Bible tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). When we cultivate gratitude, we open our hearts to receive the joy that God desires to give us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we are commanded to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” When we choose to be grateful, we are aligning our hearts with God’s will for our lives, which can bring great joy and hope.

As always, be wary of putting joy and happiness on the same level. Happiness is transient – it’s based on circumstances of the moment and can be fleeting. A really good pizza can make me happy, but sooner or later I’ll be hungry again. Joy keeps me well-fed and perpetually content.

4 – Thankfulness and gratitude help us overcome anxiety.

Have you ever thought about this? Worry can be so pervasive. Maybe that’s your kryptonite. It might be that you worry because you worry. Because, as a believer, worry is sinful, right?

Anxiety can be a significant barrier to cultivating hope, but gratitude can help us overcome it. When we focus on what we have instead of what we lack, we begin to see that God is faithful and that He will provide for our needs.

You have plenty. I’m not just talking about stuff and things. We could stay in that arena and you’d have to admit you have all you need to sustain yourself. I’m also talking about those wonderful intangibles, things like your salvation. It’s not going to be taken away from you.

Here’s gold-standard scripture. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus encourages us not to worry about our needs but to trust that God will provide for us. He says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” When we choose to be grateful, we are choosing to trust in God’s provision and to let go of our anxieties. You can choose. Isn’t that amazing.

5 – Gratitude and thankfulness help us to love others.

This is an interesting point.

When we are grateful, we are more likely to show love and kindness to others. Gratitude helps us to see the good in people and to appreciate the ways in which they bless our lives.

I know this can be hard. How can you be thankful for someone who did you wrong?

There is a supernatural element to this, obviously. In the flesh, it’s well nigh impossible to be grateful for those bad people in your life. Yet God engineers circumstances so that our lives intersect with the most unlovable people, and there is always a divine reason for that.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, we are told that love is patient, kind, and keeps no record of wrongs. When we choose to be grateful for the people in our lives, even the stinkers, we are cultivating love and kindness towards them.

6 – Gratitude and thankfulness help us to see God’s provision.

I keep circling back around to this one, trying to frame it in an accessible way.

The Bible tells us that God is the source of all blessings and that every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17). When we focus on what we have instead of what we lack, we can see the many ways in which God has provided for us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are told to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. When we choose to be grateful and thankful, we are acknowledging God’s provision in our lives, which can bring hope and encouragement in difficult times.

It all comes down to the all-sufficiency of God. The Bible tells us that God is faithful and that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6.) The promise of His presence is a promise to claim. You don’t face anything in life on your own. Absolutely nothing.

You are not alone in your struggles. Other people might not get it, or you. People are gifts from God (and you may wish some had a generous return policy … it’s like, “Hey, God, You can have this one back!”)

Just remember. God is with you, even in your darkest moments. Gratitude and thankfulness will help you experience that.

Talk later.

Be grateful, your Uncle Tony says. And you think, “If I’m gonna be grateful, then I’ve got to look really hard to find things to be grateful for.”

Of course that’s not true of you. You practice gratitude already, because you’re blessed.

Still.

If we’re honest, there are times when being grateful doesn’t come naturally.

So, do you have a grateful heart? Is that a pattern in your life? Or are you letting circumstances and the darkness of this world steer you toward bitterness and ingratitude?

So, here are some signs that you can look for in your own life that teach you that you at least have the capacity to be grateful.

• You don’t have to prove anything to anyone else.
  • I’d think of this as being secure in your own skin. You don’t have an identity that comes from what you do, or even who you hang out with. Others don’t define you. You’re content whether others appreciate you or not.
• You aren’t small-minded.
  • Know how it seems people go around looking for reasons to be angered or outraged these days? It’s like they wear their pettiness as a badge of honor.
  • That ain’t you. You don’t let what others say get under your skin. And even when you are faced with a personal attack, you keep your cool.
• You seldom use terms like “I should’ve,” “I ought‘ve,” and “If only.”
  • Regrets can for sure keep you from being grateful. We all wish we had “do-overs” for the pathetically boneheaded things we’ve done.
  • Listen: you can’t undo what’s already happened. Lord knows I can be among the worst when it comes to looking in the rear-view mirror, and letting things that happened in college still bother me.
  • If you want to be grateful, then realize that you can still learn and grow from the times you blew it.
• You love to give.
  • Isn’t that true? Be grateful that you CAN give. Be generous. It feels good.
  • (That’s why when someone offers to buy my lunch, I let them. I know how good I feel when I do that. Why would I deny them that same feeling?)
  • Seriously – be generous. Don’t be self-seeking. Be gracious in meeting other people’s needs.
• People know that they mean something to you.
  • When you’re thankful for others – and I mean genuinely thankful – they know it.
  • Others like to know that they’re significant to you. Everybody wants to be wanted.
• You know that you mean something to others.
  • That’s the flip side of the point above.
  • Okay, I get it. Maybe you don’t feel appreciated. Well, this side of eternity you may never know just how important you were to someone.
  • And the sure thing is that the God Who created you is crazy in love with you. You mean so much to Him. Be grateful for that. His love is everlasting. Cool.

I’d love to sit down with you and help you practice gratitude. Being grateful gives you a superpower.

Look around. People are miserable. They’ve let the cares and worries of this world overcome them.

Don’t be like that. Being grateful makes you strong. It protects you from the fiery darts of Satan. It puts your head in a good place.

If you want to practice something that really works, do this:

Every night, before you shut down, take some paper or open a doc on your device. Write down three things you’re grateful for.

I ‘d heard this before, and tended to say, “Yeah, right.”

It works. Don’t ask me how, but it works. You’ll find your attitude toward life will sweeten over time. You’ll find yourself more positive and not so whiny. You will genuinely be grateful.

You’ll know it. Others will know it. And it’s a good, good thing.

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Be blessed.

Tony’s Question: Of those points I listed above, which one gives you the most hope and encouragement? Share it with the rest of us below, and tell us why.

Get over yourself.

I sure don’t want to hear that said to me. The implication is that I’m selfish, self-centered, and think the world owes me something.

Well, it does, right? I mean, all of you readers are supporting actors in my autobiography. I’m the star. The sun rises and sets on me. I think about me all the time. I know what I want and need. I have to look after Number One, because no one else will.

Wrong, on just about every level. You know that.

Here’s the reality check.

There are miracles and exceptions, but on a bad day, I’m not one of those miracles and exceptions. I wake up thinking about what I’ve got to do today. There are obligations I have for work and family. I try to meet those obligations. But at the core of things, I’m always thinking about how I feel, what I want, and how to keep myself happy and content with no rough spots in my life. Those rough spots are totally unwelcome.

Maybe that has something to do with a mutant form of self-preservation. After all, if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t meet the needs of others, right?

That’s partially true. You can’t water others from an empty well. 

That’s not the real issue. Under a thin veneer of doing the right thing, there is a selfish being dwelling inside each one of us. We let self-care get the best of us. We serve because it makes us feel good. It’s a great byproduct to know that we’ve helped someone else, but the bottom line is that our needs, at least in the flesh, come first.

Still with me?

This may get worse before it gets better, but hang with me.

We are all hot messes. It’s just a matter of degree. We can be awful. At the same time, we have the capacity for amazing goodness. It can only happen when we take our eyes off ourselves and quit being so preoccupied with what makes us feel good.

Hence, “get over yourself.” Let’s unpack that.

• You are not the center of the universe. I know that’s hard to believe, because we tend to think about ourselves all the time. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – self-awareness can keep us from being stupid. The problem is when we convince ourselves that we exist to be served.
• We are all needy. If you were to graph yourself at some point along a continuum (or get someone objective to do it for you), you’d see we are all pretty much in the same state. We all have needs, hurts, wants, desires. Yours may be different from mine. Fact is that we are not all that unique. Others may have things “better” than you do. Others are in far worse shape. Just be careful in adopting the philosophy that you are the Great I Am. You are one of a zillion or so people who want to be successful in that pursuit of happiness.
• I trust there are people who care deeply about you. Some days you may feel totally misunderstood (true of me MOST days), but while my emotions are jerking me around, I do know intellectually that I have loved ones aplenty. Relish that. And if you for real don’t have anyone who cares for you, (1) get a dog, and (2) invest yourself in a benevolent activity – volunteer at a homeless shelter, take cookies to the fire station, get immersed in the life of a church. I’m a total introvert, but I still need people. Truly. (OK, maybe I need them on my own terms. Another blog topic, perhaps.)
• As a companion thought to that last point – serve, serve, serve. This may sound simplistic, but you can sure broaden your worldview by giving yourself away to a cause bigger than you are. Your intent shouldn’t be to serve yourself by serving others – you serve others with no strings attached, feelings notwithstanding. (Although, I think it’s impossible to not achieve some degree of satisfaction when you help someone else. It’s a side benefit, and shouldn’t be your main motivation.)

Here’s what we collectively need to understand: Every one of us have reasons to be grateful. Whatever your state, no matter what life is piling on you, gratitude can still be the condition of your heart. 

We who live in the West have it all, if you want to think in material terms. You have stuff to eat. You have some clothes. You didn’t sleep outside involuntarily. With those three things, you’ve already positioned yourself ahead a sizable chunk of the world’s population.

But you knew that. You’ve heard variations on those simple facts all your life.

Don’t let me or anyone else “guilt” you into feeling bad because you aren’t as grateful as you think you should be.

Gratitude is a learned state.

We are born selfish. (I’m thinking about grandbabies right now – granddaughter Katherine learned to say “Mine!! … soon after birth.)

So don’t beat yourself up. Admit you’re selfish, and it’s hard to be grateful when you think you always need more than you have, whatever that may be.

Move on. Realize that in the grand cosmic scheme of things you are doing pretty doggone good. Take some time to simply be thankful. I’m not sure how I got started doing this, but every morning I journal what I’m grateful for. I do the same thing before bedtime. I don’t want to present myself as some sort of virtuous superhero, but I’ll tell you straight up being grateful changes me daily, and that’s a good thing. I’d wager it will fix you right up, too.

Finally, a word about supernatural blessings.

God blesses us all.

When we have a “me focus” instead of a “Him focus,” we find ourselves in that same awful place of discontentment. Realize that He blesses in ways you may never be aware of, and He does that constantly. He’s always at work. He never slumbers nor sleeps. You may not “feel” anything – but feelings, of course, can be great betrayers. Don’t depend on how you feel at any given point in time to determine the state of your heart.

So celebrate that heartbeat.

You have the capacity to move out of your own head and heart, and be just what someone else needs, even today. Watch for it. Opportunities abound. Just get over yourself.