Over the past year I noticed an increase in the number of posts asking for help and even a few more posts giving thanks to GOD for blessings they have received. Considering we were going through the worst of the pandemic (US), national lockdown, racial unrest and a crucial election, I wasn’t surprised. People have often turned to GOD in times of trouble and we are in trouble. Our problems don’t compare with many other nations who don’t have the ability to respond to the pandemic and we should be thankful for our blessings.
So what are people thankful for? Our “thankful list” should be filled with answered prayers and unexpected blessings, right? Many of the thankful posts are beautiful words and pictures, found on the internet or posted by friends and family. Some contain quotes from the Bible or famous authors and celebrities and are shared or reposted by those who liked it or agree with the content. Sadly, those prepackaged messages are less likely to reflect true thankfulness of the person posting. I use those same kinds of messages myself, because they are well done and convenient. They mostly reflect my opinion more than my gratitude.
When I see a list of what people are actually thankful for, they seem rather self-centered. In short, “Thank you LORD for blessing me and mine with health, wealth, happiness and stuff.” But you say, we should be thankful for all those things! I agree, but shouldn’t there be more substance in our gratitude? Thanking GOD for dying on the cross and saving our souls doesn’t have to be repeated every time, but have you thanked Him enough for that? Even though we don’t have to get saved again, we should remember to thank GOD for His mercy and grace when we fall short and ask Him to help do better.
We can thank GOD for the healing and restoration that is coming by faith and for what He protected us from. Being thankful for our food is a given, but what about thanking Him for feeding others and for those who produce and prepare what we eat? If you have enough money, you should thank GOD for His provision and for help in using it to His glory. If you have abundance, you should be especially thankful and ask for wisdom in helping others.
If you have never included action in with your thankfulness, maybe you’re not thankful. We know “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” and that “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16 KJV) is love in action, for our benefit, so shouldn’t our thankfulness lead to action? Don’t you know “ye are not your own?… For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God” (1 Cor 6:19-20 KJV). If you are thankful, do something and glorify GOD!
You can thank GOD by sharing how He saved your wretched soul and gave you victory over death, Hell and the grave! More than thanking Him, be thankful and let the whole world know it! Your thankfulness should be more than just another post on Facebook. It may be the difference that leads someone to JESUS, who is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6 KJV).
Wayne Lance