For many years, I viewed gratitude as merely a byproduct of my emotions rather than a spiritual discipline. 

I remember being a young college student, surrounded by healthy community, deeply involved in my local church and studying a subject that made me feel purposeful. In this season of my life, thanksgiving seemed to pour out of me naturally. I was so happy, and my circumstances were a constant reminder of God’s goodness. 

My gratitude was a result of things in my life going how I wanted them to. 

I also remember the formative years of my life leading up to college. I experienced the loss of two dear family members, my father fell ill with an incurable disease, and due to the medical bills, the financial situation of our small family unit was often fraught. 

I felt like I grew up overnight. I was disoriented and felt hopeless. My heart was not naturally producing thanksgiving, and practicing gratitude felt inauthentic. It felt forced. In my immaturity, I chose to dwell on how I felt, and my discontentment consumed me as a result.

When I reflect on these two seasons of my life and compare them, I realize they’re not that different at their core. In both, my gratitude was dependent on my environment. It was transactional. 

I was essentially communicating to God, “If you provide me comfort and life on my terms, then I will thank you.” 

And as much as I would like to believe I have grown, how often does this faulty thinking creep back in? How often do I allow discomfort or stress in my life to hinder my posture of gratitude? Do I still pour out thanksgiving when the pressures of life begin to build? 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 speaks to this contradiction we feel as Christians living in a broken world. 

Despite living in the world, filled with those who withhold thanks until results align with their desires, followers of Christ have a command to thank and praise God, even when our circumstances are not what we would choose for ourselves. 

I was born on a rainy Thanksgiving Day. As I grew up, my grandmother would tell me that God chose that birthdate purposefully, and that I would learn to be someone defined by gratitude. 

I remember being a little girl and hoping she was right. Later in life, I realized thanksgiving is not something you wake up talented at. You must practice it. The best way to grow into someone who can give the Lord gratitude and thanksgiving is to offer those things when life is imperfect. 

I pray that today, we can reflect on our lives and praise God for all he has done, even in the dark seasons of our story. I pray God’s Church can come together and sing our thanksgiving to the Lord no matter what circumstances we currently find ourselves in. 

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?” – Psalm 116:12

If all we can give the Lord in exchange for his love, freedom, joy and peace is our thanksgiving, should we not do so with all that we have?