How Is Faith Related to Expressing Thanksgiving?

In our culture we give fun-filled birthday parties for anyone who has reached the magical age of 40. In good humor we joke about being “too old to cut the mustard,” about being “over the hill,” and youth being gone forever. Yet for some folks, the anxiety of aging is no joking matter.

A marriage may disintegrate overnight, and careers may become threatened by fears of being replaced by artificial intelligence. These issues cause anxiety if allowed to crowd out your capacity to be thankful for God’s faithfulness in providing for you.

Comfort is found by voicing your trust and faith in Christ Jesus.

The strength to endure and stand firm is made possible by God’s gift of faith. Articulating thanksgiving is an affirmation of the faith God has given you. Being thankful doesn’t always come easy, so it’s necessary to practice this virtue until it’s a natural representation of your identity.                          

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Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts [given to] us by God. 

~1 Corinthians 2:12 Revised Standard Version

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Voicing Your Thanks

Suppose for a moment that all forms of verbal communication were suspended. How then would you communicate to those special people in your life how thankful you are for them? In the busy, rushed world we’ve created, it’s not uncommon to forget words of gratitude and lose touch with thankful feelings. Has expressing thanksgiving become obsolete?

What would your children think if you were to tell them how much you appreciate being their parent? How difficult would it be to say “thank you” for the benefits family life has provided? Caring enough to articulate gratitude that comes from the heart is recognizing that all we are and all we have is because of God's favor and blessings.

Voicing thanksgiving helps us see beyond our immediate situation. Thanksgiving is an integral part of praise to the Lord God. Psalm 138:3 reminds us that when we communicate with the Lord God, when we call out to him, he gives us courage and strengthens our souls. Isn’t that a delightful reason to express thanksgiving?

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I will give thanks to you with all my heart…I will give thanks to your name because of your mercy and truth. You have made your name and your promise greater than everything. When I called, you answered me. You made me bold by strengthening my soul.

~Psalm 138:1-3 God’s Word Translation 

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.