Wrestling with How to be Thankful in All Circumstances

This is an excerpt from As for Me by Adrienne Camp.

We have so much to be thankful for every day, really every moment, of our lives. Yet I know my thoughts and my speech are often filled with so many things that don’t fall into the “thanksgiving” category. I have a long way to go to “bless the LORD at all times”. Negativity, doubt, criticism of others and how they do things, fear of the future—these seem to spill out of my heart instead of gratitude.

That’s part of why I love the truth in verse 3 that we’re in this together: “Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me.” Let’s start today by asking the Holy Spirit to give us more of His perspective so our hearts will overflow with good things. The more we cultivate thanksgiving, the more thankful we’ll learn to be.

Both David and Paul encourage us to aim for constant praise and gratitude. These two men who lived before and after Jesus’s life on earth learned that in God and only in Him is this state of being possible. It’s hard, especially in trying seasons, and we may not always get there, but it’s worth the pursuit.

First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “Be thankful in all circumstances”; it doesn’t tell us to be thankful for all circumstances (NLT, emphasis mine). The reality is that we will all face many difficult trials, and God isn’t asking us to put a superficial smile on our faces and sugarcoat what we’re facing. Instead, there are valuable things we can grow in, and through those challenges, learn to, as verse 21 tells us, “Hold on to what is good.”

Our circumstances may not be good, but we can hold tightly to the One we belong to. We don’t need to make thanksgiving or gratitude more complicated than it should be.

In Psalm 66:4, the psalmist wrote, “‘The whole earth will worship you and sing praise to you. They will sing praise to your name.’ Selah.”

Whenever you see Selah in the psalms, it’s an encouragement to pause and reflect on the value of what’s being said.

Do that now. Pause and reflect on Psalm 66:4.

The psalmists must have known how easily distracted we can be. They wrote a musical term to intentionally pause and meditate on what God has done. As we pause and reflect on God’s mercy toward us and how His goodness is woven into everything, thanksgiving is a natural byproduct.

As I journey in my walk with God, I pray that my soul, mind, mouth, and heart gush with the goodness of the Lord. That my heart would fully realize, as Psalm 34:10 says, “Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.”

When we practice thanksgiving, we recognize we are the recipients of something we don’t deserve. This gratitude that wells up in our hearts causes us to want to worship the Lord and, in a sense, repay Him with a heart of gratitude. We can express this gratitude in different ways—journaling, praise, song, prayer, and tears.

Gratitude slips away from our hearts the more we feel people or life owe us something. Instead of humility flourishing in our hearts, pride does. Over time we become hardened, entitled, and less appreciative of the blessing of life Jesus has given us. We cannot have a heart flowing with gratitude while focusing on ourselves. Humility and thankfulness never demand their own honor.

Creating a rhythm of gratitude in my heart forces me to slow down and take note of who God is and what He has done in my life. I’m forced to take my eyes off my circumstances and myself. We have an inclination to forget His goodness so quickly. It’s why the Lord prompted our biblical forefathers and us to have tangible reminders.

I love this picture of Jacob setting up something tangible and having a moment of worship with God. When we recall the gifts that are ours in Christ—such as forgiveness for our sins, eternal life with Him, and unity and fellowship with other believers—we build a solid foundation of worship in our hearts. Our offerings of gratitude are the “oil” we pour on it as we remember God’s goodness toward us.

Let’s be people who set up pillars of remembrance in our hearts of the times we know God is saying, “I see you, and I love you.” When we keep those pillars in our hearts, we cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. Remember the things God has done. Don’t forget; don’t let the hardness of the things of the world slowly suffocate your awareness of His faithfulness and goodness toward you.

What is a marker or stone of remembrance for you—something that tangibly reminds you of God’s faithfulness and goodness to you? If you don’t have one, reflect on a time in your relationship with Him that bears remembering, and come up with a “stone” you can keep with you.

Let’s reflect on Psalm 66:16: “Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.”

Memorize this verse throughout the day and meditate on what God has done for you. Perhaps even pray for an opportunity to share with someone one way God has met you recently.