Have you ever noticed how two people can experience the exact same situation and walk away with completely different attitudes? One is frustrated and discouraged, while the other feels blessed and hopeful. What makes the difference?
More often than not, it’s perception.
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
— Colossians 2:6–7 (NLT)
Years ago I read a line from Erwin McManus in Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul that has stayed with me:
“Perspective is not shaped in a vacuum; it is formed in the context of gratitude. An ungrateful person sees the glass as half-empty and wonders who is holding out on him. The grateful see the glass as half-full knowing that someone has shared with them more than they deserve.” (p. 124)
That truth is crucial on a day like Thanksgiving.
Gratitude shapes how we see the world. A grateful heart interprets life through the lens of God’s generosity. It breeds contentment, peace, and hope. The ungrateful heart, on the other hand, constantly believes it is missing out—always comparing, always wanting, always questioning God’s goodness.
If I’m honest, gratitude has not always come naturally to me.
There were many seasons when I looked at my life and wished it were different—different opportunities, different circumstances, different abilities. I wondered why things seemed to come so easily for others while I had to struggle. Underneath those thoughts was a quiet but poisonous question:
“Why is God holding out on me?”
That mindset robbed me of joy. It kept me from seeing the blessings right in front of me. And more importantly, it distracted me from becoming the person God created me to be.
The truth is, comparison and discontentment don’t just make us miserable—they blind us. They cause us to overlook the ways God has been faithfully working in our lives, providing what we need, shaping our character, and giving us opportunities to grow.
Even now, that temptation still pops up from time to time. Gratitude isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a daily practice. But over the years I’ve learned something crucial:
Gratitude opens my eyes to what God has already done.
Discontentment blinds me to it.
When I begin to thank God for the blessings, experiences, relationships, and abilities He has given me, I find peace replacing frustration, and trust replacing fear. I remember that God has not abandoned me—He is shaping me.
The apostle Paul understood this connection between gratitude and peace:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT)
Notice the connection: prayer with thanksgiving leads to God’s peace.
We often want the peace without the gratitude. We want God to calm our fears and quiet our worries while we continue to focus on what we don’t have. But Paul says peace comes as we turn our attention toward God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Worry, fear, and loneliness grow in the soil of ingratitude.
Peace grows in the soil of thanksgiving.
On this Thanksgiving Day, many of us will sit around tables filled with food, family, and tradition. But if our hearts remain focused on what we lack, we will miss the joy right in front of us.
God has given each of us far more than we deserve—His presence, His grace, His salvation, His people, and countless daily mercies.
It’s time for us to stop asking, “Why isn’t my life like theirs?” and start thanking God for the life He has given us.
Because it’s only when we practice gratitude that we experience the peace He promises His children.
Point to Ponder:
Gratitude transforms the way we see life—contentment and hope grow when we recognize God’s generosity.
Passage to Remember:
Philippians 4:6–7
Question to Consider:
What are three specific things you can thank God for today?
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