When You See the Good, Say It

Gratitude has the power to change your life.

So often we look for the next promotion or breakthrough or provision to be the thing we need to change our lives for the better. I love those moments when what we’ve been praying for manifests in the natural. They are beautiful, and we need them. God loves to bless us with his goodness. But while these breakthrough moments often change our external lives, they do not necessarily change our hearts.

If we’re not careful, not long after one breakthrough comes, we begin looking for the next breakthrough as the one that will really change our lives. For some of us, it’s a cycle we live in. We end up there because we’ve forgotten how to be content.

We’ve forgotten that contentment isn’t found in finally having all we want, but in intentionally cultivating thankfulness for what we already have.

The Bible says a lot about gratitude. The psalms are filled with exhortations to give thanks to the Lord. And in the new covenant, we are told, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16–18).

Thanksgiving is the culture of heaven (see Rev. 4:9; 7:12). It is one of the ways we step into the reality of our new creation life in Christ even while living in an imperfect and pain-filled world. Unflinching gratitude is one of the bravest stances we can take.

Gratitude ushers the peace of God into our hearts (see Phil. 4:6–7; Col. 3:15–16), and his peace guards our hearts and minds against two potential faith-killers in our lives—offense toward God and a critical spirit toward others.

When we get offended toward God, we put him on trial and demand answers or our version of justice. Ingratitude toward God points our eyes on what we believe he should have done or should be doing rather than on what he has already done. With gratitude, we get the peace that surpasses understanding—the peace that doesn’t need to understand. And that peace keeps our hearts and minds properly positioned toward God.

When we adopt a critical spirit, we step into judgment of others. We become focused on their shortcomings or the ways we think they should act differently rather than seeing them according to their successes and their identity in Christ. (I’m not saying we ignore sin or major transgressions. I’m talking about the sort of criticisms that arise from personal preferences or disagreements.) With gratitude, we learn to see the good and say it. We learn to celebrate and affirm the strengths and successes we see in others. We gain patience for other people’s process, and we learn to trust God to guide each one of us in growth.

Imagine how our environments would change if we carried gratitude with us. If we lived perpetually thankful for God’s goodness and for the blessing others carry—even in the face of hardship and imperfection.

We each have the ability to be gratitude carriers. We simply need to practice. One of the best ways to renew your mind toward gratitude is to have a daily gratitude list. I recently started writing down three things I’m thankful for every day, and it truly has changed my life.

The New Testament church was a church under persecution. Many of the original readers of Paul’s letters were living in seasons of trauma, grief, loss, and disappointment. They faced extreme pressures and losses that most of us can hardly imagine. Yet over and over, Paul told them to be thankful (see Eph. 5:4; Col. 3:17; 4:2; 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 2:14).

The same call to gratitude echoes in our lives, too.

When we don’t get the promotion we were hoping for. When our children act disrespectfully. When we face financial hardship. When we think our pastor should make a different decision. When we pray for healing but don’t see it. When we face heartbreak and disappointment.

Gratitude isn’t about our circumstances, but the state of our hearts. And it takes great courage. Gratitude sees life through the lens of blessing. When Jesus healed the ten lepers in Luke 17:11–19, only one of the ten lepers returned to thank him. Too often, we live like the nine lepers, quickly forgetting to be thankful for God’s blessing in our lives. Too often, our focus stays on what we don’t yet have, instead of on all we have already received.

One of the greatest blessings we can find in this life is the courage to be thankful—to see life through the lens of God’s goodness, even when walking through pain and disappointment and lack. This gratitude enables us to sense his presence with us, to feel his comfort, and to embrace our journey.

To purchase my book, The Way Back to Hope, CLICK HERE!

Receive a FREE downloadable study guide for The Way Back to Hope.