How to be Thankful Even When You Don’t Want to Be

1 Thessalonians 5:18

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

This is a tough topic because being thankful is often tied, at least in my mind, to being happy or comfortable. Thank you for the birthday present; you really shouldn’t have. Thank you, Lord, for this meal. Thanks for repairing the car so quickly. But, a quick glance at these examples of thankfulness exposes the fact that they are all based on positive result.

The feeling of thankfulness that is talked about in 1 Thesselonians is not based on results. In fact, it’s not a feeling at all. It’s an action. Give thanks in all circumstances. In the context of this verse, thankfulness is not an emotion but a discipline, just like prayer or exercising patience.

So, how do I exercise giving thanks when I don’t feel particularly happy or thankful? Well, I’ve learned there’s not one single trick or hack to get me there. Just like any discipline, it takes practice. Like going to the gym or learning a musical instrument or playing any competitive sport. Practice starts well before the actual game or concert. Practice has to be repeated. And, when you start, it won’t look or sound good. I’m just being honest. The violin player didn’t start day-one perfectly in tune. The short-stop didn’t start day-one of Little League able to execute a perfect double play.

Your journey into giving thanks as a discipline will start awkwardly. It may even feel false some days. But, giving thanks IN all circumstances allows you to step outside your own feelings and your own perspective. I’ve found that when I practice giving thanks as a discipline, I get out of my own head and, not always but often, I imagine my circumstances from God’s perspective. And, my world gets a little bit bigger. And, I find myself genuinely feeling more thankful.

Try it and see for yourself. Separate the emotion from the discipline. Does the practice of giving thanks in all circumstances change how you perceive those circumstances?

By: Aaron Shaver, Life Community Church Elder