Growing in Gratitude
How can we cultivate natural thankfulness?
November, 2021
Usually, when we want to develop some attribute, we see a clear path. To grow a plant, we water it, prune it, fertilize it, and protect it from damage. When seeking to grow our strength, lifting weights and other exercise makes sense. Scripture says we can develop our discernment on moral issues through study and practice (Hebrews 5:14). Yet some positive traits feel more like an "on-off" switch: we either have them, or we don't. This month, the United States celebrates the holiday of Thanksgiving. A theme which then comes to mind is gratitude. How do we learn to be grateful? How can we develop such a trait; and is such a thing even possible?
This month's spotlight verse, Colossians 3:16, indicates that thankfulness should be an inherent part of our Christian life. It's not difficult to think of reasons we ought to be grateful to God. But cold, logical thought is not the same as a mindset, or an attitude. What makes issues like this difficult that emotions and feelings are fickle (Jeremiah 17:9). We cannot trust what we "feel," though that applies to both positive and negative situations. Just because we feel selfish or unappreciative in a particular moment isn't the same as exhibiting major problems with ingratitude. All we can do is choose to act in ways which reflect proper gratitude and appreciation, regardless of how we feel.
That starts with understanding, in our minds (Romans 12:1–2), why we should be thankful. For the Christian, that begins with appreciation of what it means to be saved. God isn't obligated to save anyone, for any reason, yet He's offered us eternity and forgiveness. Truly valuing our salvation includes recognizing that we have absolutely zero contribution to it. We deserve death and punishment (Romans 3:10, 23), but He truly cares for us (John 3:16; 1 Peter 5:7). Rather than responding to these ideas with prideful arrogance, or self-hatred, we can reconcile them with gratitude.
Thankfulness takes root when we deeply consider that God owes us nothing, so we should be glad we're offered salvation. It is strengthened when we see the ways God offers for us to know and to trust our salvation (1 John 5:13; 2 Corinthians 13:5). If faith was 100% about blind belief, assurance would be hard or impossible. But the evidence we're given in nature and Scripture are the start of why we can be confident in faith (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:18–20).
Our deep flaws and God's undeserved mercy need to be acknowledged, but not held in tension with each other. They can be embraced at the same time, expressed as gratefulness and thanksgiving. We can't have one without the other. If we don't deserve consequences, there's nothing to be "saved" from. If we're not destined for something better, there's no reason to think our future will ever be better than it is now.
As believers, we should be steeped in gratitude. An attitude of thanksgiving is key to avoiding the world's habits of fear, despair, bitterness, and anger. So, it's crucial to remember that what we do affects what we feel, just as much as feelings will influence actions. Christian writer C. S. Lewis said something about love which applies just as well to gratitude:
"Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him."
In the same way, gratitude can be developed by first acknowledging that we should feel it. Then choose behaviors corresponding to thankfulness. Over time, we find that acting like a grateful person can make us more appreciative. Consider what God has done for you (Psalm 103:2; Luke 8:39), and how an appreciative person would act in response. When we do as we should (James 4:17), it leads us to feel as we should (Psalm 51:10).
-- Editor
