It is a natural progression of thought to go from recognizing God’s faithful unfailing love for us to spontaneously express gratitude for His work on our behalf. However, it takes a while for that sense of gratitude to overcome our fears of the bad news and the helplessness and hopelessness that can dominate our immediate thoughts. But we can trust God to open our eyes to see those reasons we have to be grateful and resist focusing only on the bad news.
God not only gives us the gift of faith and repentance, but He also gives us the gift of having a grateful heart. Without deliberation, thankfulness became a natural condition for me. When I was extremely fatigued and we found a parking space close to the hotel or hospital, I said “thank you for this, Lord.” When we had to park far out, I said “thank you for helping me to get the exercise I need to build up my stamina.” I was grateful when we did not have to wait long for a blood draw, or to be called for the chemo infusion to begin. I was grateful when we had to wait for an exceedingly long time, because I needed to learn the virtue of patience, and because God was answering my prayer that others in greater need would be called ahead of me. When I was able to get on the clinical trial drug, I would not say I have to go to University of Michigan Cancer Center for tests (a 5-hour trip if I drive, or a 12-hour train trip), but rather, I get to go to UMCC for tests. A sense of gratitude for how God is working out all things for the good is infectious and can alter your attitude in a powerfully positive way.
Every morning when I take our Golden Retriever for a walk, I begin by thanking God for another day of life. This is no small thing, given that as I write this, I am in year 14 of an incurable sarcoma that has a life expectancy of less than four years from diagnosis to death. I then recite Lamentations 3:21-24:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
This well-loved Bible verse combines gratitude for God’s steadfast unfailing love to deliver His mercies everyday with gratitude for His great faithfulness which is an anchor for our hope and trust in Him.
