I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
—Psalm 86:12 (ESV)
“You deserve this.” We’ve all heard someone say that to us when something has gone well. No doubt, the individuals meant well. But, in truth, there are scarcely more dangerous words in human communication than these. The accolade tempts us to feel entitled and behave accordingly, plain and simple.
The Bible speaks of a very different response. When good things happen to believers, Scripture does not encourage us to congratulate ourselves. The Bible lifts our eyes to the heavens and bids us come and give fresh thanks to God – not grim thankfulness but abundant, wholehearted, rushing-river thankfulness.
We are sinners, yet Christ died for us because of our heavenly Father’s great gospel love. We who deserve only judgment now know only God’s favor (1 John 4:9-10). This is where gratitude begins and always renews: His mercy and grace.
Of course, we all know hardships and have days when giving thanks to God feels difficult. In the psalm quoted above, David praises the Lord’s lavish kindness. But he goes on to lament that “a band of ruthless men” (v. 14) hunts him to kill him. That’s not the group you invite to eat turkey with you on Thanksgiving Day!
Like David, we all face serious difficulties. But we do not wait until those difficulties have passed to praise our Father. We offer thanksgiving to Him in both the storms and successes of life. We do so because God “is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (v. 15).
This, as it turns out, is the roadmap to happiness—this is the elusive secret! The biblical route to happiness is praising the Lord our God. This doesn’t mean that our trials will magically disappear, for we will continue to experience difficulties in this life. Rather, by the Holy Spirit’s power, we find abiding joy in the midst of our trials as we choose gratitude over griping.
We give thanks today as the stouthearted Pilgrim settlers of this great country did so long ago. We joyfully do so this special week and every other week as well. While we do not “deserve” any good thing, God faithfully shows us His amazing grace and matchless love.
