Jehoshaphat’s Story – Gratitude

Posted on September 29, 2023 by

28 Comments

Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.

The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

– 2 Chronicles 20:27-30

We have reached the end of Jehoshaphat’s story. And what better way to end this powerful story than with gratitude. After the victory, Jehoshaphat and his army went to the temple with musical instruments. We can picture them overflowing with thanksgiving towards God.

In the beginning of the story, things looked dismal. A vast army was coming against them. The outcome from a human perspective seemed hopeless.

But we must remember that when things seem hopeless in our lives, we always have hope with Jesus by our side.

In this story, although things appeared hopeless, God delivered them. He brought an unforgettable victory to Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah. As a result, the people rejoiced and played music as a way of expressing their joy and gratitude.

In our journey through this story, we are focusing on gratitude after the victory. However, gratitude is part of the entire journey. Even in the midst of the battle when we can’t see the victory yet.

A few weeks ago we talked about how Jehoshaphat and the nation praised God. They praised Him before they saw the conclusion to their own battle. And when praising God, some of the words they spoke were, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” (v 21, emphasis added)

Praise and gratitude go hand in hand. Therefore, gratitude can also remain in our hearts at all times – whether things are going well in our lives or not. Whether we are in a battle or have seen a victory.

I fear that gratitude is one of the most overlooked, yet also one of the most powerful tools, we have as Christians.

Why is gratitude so important?

1 – The opposite of gratitude – complaining and grumbling – grieves God.

There is a story in the book of Numbers that I have been thinking about a lot lately. It says in Numbers 11:1 (NLT), “Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.”

Wow! This tells me that God takes our complaining seriously. Complaining comes when we are not content in life. True contentment can only come when we are walking closely to the Lord. He helps us to have peace in our hearts, no matter what our circumstances look like.

As my friend Manu put it, “The desires of a grumbling heart can only be satisfied through intimacy with God. Drawing near to God, satisfies our hearts, quenches our soul and rights our perspective.” (Manu did an excellent study on the book of Numbers. This quote comes from her post titled “Book of Numbers – What Defines Your ‘Good?’”)

The world around us gives us plenty to complain about. Having a negative mindset is contagious. However, being optimistic and looking for the good around us is also contagious. Therefore, we can choose. We can choose to look around for all the blessings that God has brought into our lives. When we do, this will lift our hearts, and draw us closer to the Lord.

2 – Gratitude helps us in the midst of a battle.

My friend Judy posted this quote on her blog last weekend:

“There is no more devastating blow against evil than when a human being chooses God in the face of suffering, disappointment, unbelief, chronic pain, frustration, abandonment… Before the circumstances change, to get up and proclaim that GOD IS GOOD is a devastating blow to evil.” – John Eldredge

When I read this quote it hit home. As many of you may know, last weekend I asked for prayers for my family. We have been walking through something difficult. And I can tell you that in the midst of the storm, gratitude is not what I want to focus on.

If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you! – Proverbs 11:27 NIV

Yet despite the circumstances, we can always find something to be thankful for. And when we do, we are essentially fighting the evil that is around us. The enemy wants nothing more than for us to cave, and to give in to anxiety, fear, depression, bitterness, and anger. But when we choose to be grateful, we are choosing God’s way.

Some of my favorite Bible verses come from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. NIV says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

It is God’s will for us to give thanks in all circumstances.

3 – Gratitude helps our hearts.

Gratitude really is medicine for the soul. When we look for the good around us, rather than focusing on the negative, this not only boosts our mood but it also has a positive impact on our health.

If you have been following my blog for a while then you have probably heard me talk about gratitude a lot. After reading Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts, I started a gratitude journal. And I can tell you firsthand that since starting this practice, I have more peace and contentment in my life.

It doesn’t mean everything goes well in my life. And it doesn’t mean I am always perfect in looking for the good. However, writing down blessings from my day has helped me to see that God is always there. Even in the storms, when He feels far away, He is always with us. Looking for those moments helps us to trust Him, and hold tightly to Him, even when we are facing a battle. And that trust makes it possible to give thanks in all circumstances.

Next week I will wrap up Jehoshaphat’s story with all that we learned, as we have touched on many topics over the past couple of months. So stay tuned for one more post pertaining to this story.

Please continue to pray for my family. Prayers are much needed and appreciated. And please share your prayer requests as well. (Either in the comments or email me at bridget@bridgetathomas.com.)

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a gratitude-filled weekend!

© 2018-2023 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

Photo by Jon Tyson on unsplash.com

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28 Comments on “Jehoshaphat’s Story – Gratitude”

  1. Gratitude as you said is powerful. It helps right our perspective and rest our gaze back on God in the midst of our battle. Thank you for the shoutout. I love that quote by John Eldredge.
    Continuing to keep you and your family in my prayers. May the Lord be right with you all, working in his wonderful way to meet their needs.
    Psalm 68:19 (CSB) “May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation. Selah”

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    • I love the way you put that, Manu! Gratitude “helps right our perspective and rest our gaze back on God” So true. And you’re very welcome for the shoutout. 🤗
      Thank you for the prayers. They are appreciated. 🙏
      Thank you for sharing that verse from the Psalms. That is a beautiful one. I love the reminder that the Lord bears our burdens. 🙌
      Have a blessed weekend! 🤍

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  2. I so appreciate your focus on gratitude, not only in this post, but throughout your writing, Bridget. You have really helped me in the times I’ve struggled. Like I’ve said before, I think it’s easy for us to focus on the negative and lose sight of God. This has been a wonderful study. Good job putting it all together! Continued prayers for you and your family.

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  3. The world doesn’t teach gratitude in the midst of trial and tribulations. That is a God thing. God is right. Gratitude requires a change of thought focus and brings with it a change of heart. Thanks for helping me delve deeper into the Bible stories I sometimes overlook.

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    • I understand. Gratitude is difficult to cling to in some seasons. I’m glad you’re on the other side of victory and able to rejoice over God’s healing power 🙌

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  6. Gratitude definitely makes things better. It opens our eyes to see what God has done and all He is doing. Then we are in a better position to trust His faithfulness in the future. Thank you Bridget. Continuing to pray for your family. ❤️

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  8. I’ve had a few hopeless situations that God turned around. It’s amazing what gratitude can do for one’s spiritual health, even before the deliverance comes. God is good all the time. It was true for Jehoshaphat, and it’s still true today. He’s the same God!
    I’ve enjoyed this series, Bridget. His best to you!

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  10. Praying your request for prayer has brought contentment over the situation.

    I love, in Jehoshaphat’s story, that others (in the surrounding kingdoms) even noticed and saw God’s provision over the people of Judah and Jerusalem. It reiterates the fact that, we as His followers, can make a big impact in pointing others to God if we share how He is working and moving in our lives!! We must speak up for His glory!

    Love these words too, “gratitude is part of the entire journey. Even in the midst of the battle when we can’t see the victory yet.”
    He deserves praise no matter the season, or difficulties or blessings. He is most worthy of praise any time!!

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    • Thank you for the prayers!
      Such a good point. May we be quick to speak up for God’s glory! 🙌
      It’s not always easy to choose gratitude during stressful seasons or during a battle. But even if things look hopeless with our human eyes, we can trust the Lord is there and working in our behalf. And that helps us to bring gratitude and praise to any situation. You are right – He is worthy! ♥️

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  11. I believe the same – gratitude is so important for our lives as Christians!! In all we do, in all God has for us in this life, we are to give thanks. “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬
    🙏🏻❤️
    Thanks for sharing, Bridget.

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    • I agree! It’s not always easy when we are dealing with something difficult. But even in a storm, we can find blessings. And if nothing else, our salvation alone is something we should rejoice over. Thank you, Summer, for sharing your thoughts!! 🤍

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