A Season of Gratitude
Today, families are gathering to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. While this season serves as a time of reflection, it also reminds us of the type of person we should strive to be in our daily lives. That is, a person who expresses gratitude and thanksgiving in all circumstances.
The theme of gratitude is laced throughout the books of the Bible. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, Scripture provides numerous examples of individuals who praised the Heavenly Father, regardless of their current situation—good or bad. Consider the following examples as we seek to apply the theme of gratitude and thanksgiving to our own lives:
1. Jonah and the Whale
When God called Jonah to minister to the people of Nineveh, a city marked by sin and wickedness, he disobeyed and ran away from the Lord. As Jonah sailed towards Tarshish, a terrible storm came over the waters and the men of the ship discovered that he was to blame for the sudden turn of the weather. When the crew cast Jonah into the sea, God sent a large fish to swallow and save Jonah from drowning. Even in the dark, cold belly of the whale, we see Jonah lifting praises to the Lord:
“When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to You, into Your Holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Jonah 2:7-9 (ESV)
2. Kind David, the Psalmist
David, known as “a man after God’s own heart,” experienced an abundance of joy and pain in his lifetime. From defeating Goliath to running from Saul, his life was marked by victory and defeat. In the book of Psalms, David reminds us that even in the darkest times, we should lift our eyes to the Heavenly Father for strength and comfort:
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.” Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV)
“But I am afflicted and in pain; let Your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:29-30 (ESV)
3. Hannah and Samuel
In her struggle with infertility, Hannah remained steadfast in seeking the Lord. As one of two wives to Elkanah, she remained barren while Peninnah, his other wife, had many children. Although Hannah’s frustration grew, she continued to pray boldly and with persistence, asking the Lord to bless her with a child. At the temple, she “poured her soul before the Lord,” and He heard her cry. When she gave birth to Samuel, she exclaimed:
“My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:1-2 (NLT)
4. Jesus and the Five Thousand
Jesus performed many miracles while on earth, but one of the most significant and inspiring moments was the feeding of the five thousand near Bethsaida. After teaching and healing the people, Jesus blessed them with a meal before they made the long journey back to their villages. Multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus and the disciples fed all five thousand men (plus more women and children), and even had 12 baskets of leftovers (enough for each disciples to have one full basket). Before multiplying what little they had, Jesus lifted the fish and bread up to the heavens and gave thanks to the Lord:
“Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Matthew 14:19-21 (ESV)
5. Mary’s Song
When Mary received the message that she was carrying the Savior of the world in her womb, her heart overflowed with thanksgiving and praise. As a young, unmarried but engaged, pregnant woman (a sin punishable by stoning to death), Mary should have been fearful of the future, but instead she lifted a song of praise to the Father, thanking Him for choosing her to bear His Son, her Savior, and the Savior of all who place their faith in Him:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His offspring forever.” Luke 1:46-55 (ESV)
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and remember everything God has done for us—from His provision and guidance to the gift of forgiveness of our sins and our salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. However, the holidays are not the only time we should lift praises of thanksgiving to the Lord. God is worthy of our praise always, regardless of the day or hour.
This holiday season, I want to encourage us all to fully embrace the season of gratitude and thanksgiving. Look towards the Heavens and thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed on you (especially the gift of His Son and our Savior), but also, look around you to those who have impacted your life here on earth. Let them know how thankful and grateful you are for their friendship and their love toward you. May we be people filled with the Spirit and full of thanksgiving and gratitude that others can see!
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