Being Thankful in an Unthankful World

It is easy to look around and see despair, depression, and even anger. Many in the world are very unhappy. Why? Some say because there isn’t much to be happy about. Some say it’s a different time than when they grew up. Some say it is because we are in the end times. There may be some truth in all of that. If you look at them, I think that unhappy people are unthankful people and I think unthankful people are looking in the wrong direction.

Just go to the grocery store or any large department store. Watch the people. It won’t take long before you see someone upset with the prices, upset with their child, upset that the lines are too long etc. Why isn’t everyone all smiles and songs? Right now, it is the Christmas season. The happiest time of the year, right? If you look you will see many unhappy people. There are many reasons people become unhappy. Someone took their parking spot. The item they had in mind for the “perfect gift” was out of stock or way overpriced. The clerk didn’t react to them in the way they thought he/she should. Their spouse yelled at them earlier that day. I could go on and on.

There have always been unhappy people. We can all be unhappy at times. Happiness can be a fleeting thing. Happiness depends a lot on what you are looking at and how you are seeing things. I remember as a child I had an extended family member that always seemed unhappy. She had had some hard things happen to her, mainly losing a husband she loved very much at an early age. But I also remember whenever we were around that everyone she talked about was just so wrong and life was just so hard. I rarely heard her say anything nice about anyone. She was nice to us kids and even laughed with us at times. But for the most part, she was bitter and unhappy. I can remember thinking I never wanted to be like that.

So how do we not become bitter when bad things happen? How do we stay happy in unhappy circumstances? How do we be thankful in an unthankful world? By keeping our mind on the Greater One. Colossians 3:2 and Philippians 4:6-8 tell us to keep our mind on things that are from God. When you look at Him and see all that He has done for you, you change.

“Well, that’s all well and good for you, but I don’t have very much to be thankful for,” you say. Are you breathing? Thank God for giving you breath. If your leg is hurting, thank God that your arms don’t hurt. Look outside. Thank God for the sky, the birds, the sun. We have so much to be thankful for! I know that life can be hard. I know that some people seem to have more of life’s problems than others. But I know that the God who made the sky, the birds, they sun loves you beyond measure. He has a wonderful plan for you. If you will look at Him instead of the problem, you will see a change on the inside of you. That change on the inside of you will eventually change what is going on outside of you. Even when things are bad, we still have much to be thankful for.

I like reading the Psalms of David. So many times, he starts out with how bad things are for him right then. But then he begins thinking about how good God is and he ends up praising God and thanking Him for delivering him out of the pit! I’m not denying that bad things happen in life. Or even just inconvenient things. And they can get you down. But I am encouraging you to see the good that God has put in your path and be thankful for it. Be the one who is thankful in an unthankful world and brings a bit of peace and joy to those around you. Being thankful brings more happiness than being unthankful.

Sometimes you have to make yourself be thankful. But do it! Be thankful, even when things are not going the way you want them to. Be like David and choose thankfulness. You will end up sincerely thankful. You will end up seeing God deliver you. Don’t look at how long it takes, just look at the One who loves you most. I’m so thankful that God chose to love me. I felt so unlovable. I’m so thankful that He continues to love me and guide me. Be thankful today. God LOVES YOU!