Bridget A. Thomas
Every day is a gift!
Gratitude is a Choice
As we have talked about gratitude this month, I feel we haven’t even touched the surface on all we could say about gratitude. But I do believe that one important point is that gratitude is a choice.
When we are walking through difficulties, I know it’s a lot more challenging to choose gratitude and praise. When life is good, those things can come easily.
However, the Bible tells us to give thanks in all things and for all things.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 are some of my favorite verses. They remind us to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Not only are we told to give thanks in all circumstances, but it goes on to say that this is God’s will for us.
Giving thanks to God in the midst of the pain is difficult. But we can always find things to be thankful for. In the midst of the illness, maybe we can give thanks for the medical staff that helped care for us. In the midst of the breakup, maybe we can give thanks for the friends who were there.
If we look around, we can find things to be thankful for.
So maybe we can agree with this. Perhaps we can see that even in the middle of a storm, there are still blessings to be found.
However, the Bible takes it a step further. Ephesians 5:19b-20 says, “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This tells us to give thanks for everything. I admit this can be hard to swallow. There are some things in life that are beyond difficult to accept.
Charles Stanley wrote, “For us to be able to thank God in all things, we must be able to see him in every detail of our lives. Our hearts should be grateful toward him, even when we face difficulties, because we know he is intimately involved in our circumstances and will work everything for our good if we have faith and obey him (Ro 8:28).”
Perhaps you are familiar with Joni Eareckson Tada. When she was seventeen she dove into Chesapeake Bay, but misjudged the shallowness of the water. She fractured her neck and was paralyzed from the shoulders down. She is now seventy-five and has spent the majority of her life in a wheelchair. In the beginning, Joni was angry and depressed, as we can imagine. But after time, she was able to find gratitude in each day.
In one of her many books, Joni wrote, “God isn’t asking you to be thankful. He’s asking you to give thanks. There’s a big difference. One response involves emotions, the other your choices, your decisions about a situation, your intent, your step of faith.”
Gratitude is a choice. Even when facing trials, we can choose to give thanks. We might not understand the things we go through, but our gratitude shows we trust the One who does understand.
Dear Jesus, please help us to have an attitude of gratitude. We realize that gratitude is a choice. We are sorry for times when we have not made the right choice. It’s not always easy, especially when facing difficulties. Yet You still want us to give thanks in all things and for all things. We can do that, because we know You are in control and we can trust You. Thank You, Jesus. It is in Your name, we pray. Amen.
Thank you all for reading. 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.) God bless!
© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.
Bridget A. Thomas 
God isn’t asking us to be thankful. He’s asking us to give thanks. What a bold concept. Thanks for giving me something to ponder, Bridget. Great post.
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I’m really glad this was inspiring. And your post gave me much to ponder too. 🤗
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Thank you Bridget for this excellent post! It definitely resonates with my life of health problems. I have often made the choice to be thankful and praise God in the darkest moments; it is not easy but it is the best medicine for the soul. May our Father God continue to guide and bless you and your family today sister 🙏
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Thank you for sharing part of your journey, Alan. It encourages others to hear how you have chosen gratitude, even in the midst of your health problems. And I love your point about it being the best medicine for the soul. Thank you, Alan! God bless you and yours. 🙏
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Important distinction to understand. Using this and Alan’s post as a jumping off point for my own, next year. Thanks for helping me expand my knowledge and appreciation for God given gifts.
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I’m glad this has been inspiring. And I needed this too. I’m looking forward to what you have coming up next year. 🤗
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🙂 🤗
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Give thanks in every situation not necessarily for the situation but for God being with us and working in our lives
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Amen! God is so good to us. And even if He did nothing for us, He is still worthy of our praise and gratitude. 🙏
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Bridget, thank you my friend for this beautiful post. I was sitting here and feeling a little miserable about some changes in life, wishing why it is so and here you remind me about the choice to be grateful through each and every situation. The part about Joni and what she said about giving thanks and not necessarily being thankful, that hit me right in the heart. Thank you again 💙💐
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I’m sorry you were feeling a little miserable. I do understand though. I have often asked God why. So I really needed this reminder myself as well. I’m thankful that Jesus understands our struggles. He walked this earth, and He knows the heartache it holds. But He is also there for us, every step of the way. I’m really glad this was encouraging, Manu. Blessings 🤗♥️
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Love the picture. Yes, gratitude is a choice. I love that verse reminding us to give thanks in all circumstances. I remember an elder at church years ago giving me that verse when I was looking for employment. And it changed my whole perspective. Just knowing even though I couldn’t control the job situation, I could choose to control my attitude and give thanks. Blessings Bridget 🙏🏿
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Thank you for sharing that story. It’s powerful to hear how choosing gratitude helped you during a challenging time. I pray we can all do the same. And I’m glad you liked the picture. God’s artwork never disappoints. Thank you, Dawn! Blessings to you too. ♥️🙏
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Wishing you blessings in this season of Advent! There is always something to be grateful for. Our blessings overflow day to day. Praying for you and your family! Beautiful photo!!!
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Thank you for the prayers, my friend. We really need them. 🙏
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