By Gracie Pixton, Redeeming Babel Intern
Our current cultural moment requires thinking a lot about the corrections that must be made in our society. This is a good thing. We all need to be political advocates willing to call out injustices and work toward equity in the spaces we exist. However, only focusing on the problems we see can leave us feeling discouraged and hopeless, and without a positive mental attitude. When we focus only on the bad and fail to acknowledge the good, it is far easier to lose steam and begin to neglect the important, justice-seeking work that needs to be done. This is why Christian political advocates need to practice gratitude every day of the year – not just on World Gratitude Day.
What does Scripture tell us about gratitude?
As we come up on Thanksgiving, read and reflect on these verses:
We are to be thankful at all times which requires being grateful even when we are in political and cultural turmoil!
3 Quotes About Gratitude
“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”—G. K. Chesterton
“Thanksgiving isn’t just a way of being a bit less grumpy and a bit more cheerful. It is a habit of the heart which indicates the nature and particular shape of the worldview.” – N.T. Wright
“Gratitude…goes beyond the “mine” and “thine” and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift.” – Henri Nouwen.
Should We Keep a Gratitude Journal?
Practicing gratitude can feel overwhelming, especially when we are struggling mentally and searching for the good in our daily lives seems impossible. But being thankful does not require keeping a complex gratitude journal or maintaining a permanently sunny disposition. Consider some of these practices if you want to incorporate daily gratitude into your life but are unsure where to begin.
- The Examen: The examen offers us a helpful framework that centralizes the focus of our gratitude. This practice, developed by St. Ignatius, allows us to pause and reflect on where we felt closest to God during our day. This requires thanking him for the moments we experienced the greatest peace and joy. Maybe it was on a long walk, over coffee with a friend, or while working on an exciting project. The examen helps us recognize and process these small moments of gratitude in our lives so that we can continue replicating them, leading toward a positive attitude.
Want to try practicing the examen? Check out this app!
- Find the Simple Joys: It is easy to remember to thank God for the big things; a new job, a miraculous healing, or a new relationship. However, practicing gratitude requires thanking God for the little moments of joy we experience throughout the day. You can pause and practice gratitude by thanking God for…
- Your morning coffee or tea
- A new friendship
- A long phone call catching up with family
- A sunny day or cozy rainy weather
- A good book
When we understand all these things as gifts from God, practicing gratitude becomes a much simpler task. It is easy to notice our great triumphs and overwhelming tragedies, but cultivating a practice of observing simple joys will shape us into more grateful followers of Christ.
- Pray Without Ceasing: In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul writes to his readers “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Should we take it literally and spend all day in devout prayer? Well – considering most of us have jobs to get to, appointments to keep, and classes to attend, I am guessing that option is not realistic.
However, it is no coincidence that Paul calls us both to pray without ceasing and to give thanks in all circumstances. One of the ways we can combat hopelessness is by choosing to pray continually. We can pause when we feel discouraged and overwhelmed to thank God for his presence in our lives and ask that he might fill us with His spirit so we can continue to do good for the Kingdom.
- Fast: Gratitude is most challenging when we find ourselves deep in the pits of self-comparison. When we look at what others have and focus on what we lack, discouragement arises.
In these moments, we can turn to fasting as a biblically sound response that reminds us of our reliance on the Lord. When we think about fasting, most envision abstaining from food for a specific part of our day. While this is one option, we might also consider fasting social media, Netflix, sugar, or caffeine. Ask yourself, “When I am anxious and discouraged, what do I turn to for comfort?” Consider substituting that worldly source of comfort with prayer and gratitude and watch the posture of your heart shift to center on a positive attitude around God’s goodness.
Gratitude is not an Emotional Bandaid.
Have you ever been walking through something challenging and had someone tell you to, “Just be thankful?” They might say something along the lines of “It could always be worse!” Sometimes, we use gratitude as an emotional bandaid to suppress the things that we are feeling; disappointment, pain, and confusion.
We need to remember that gratitude is not meant to cover up the deep pain that we need to process; rather, it is a way to plant our feet in the confusion and chaos of the world around us. It is a way to find solace when we feel overwhelmed and burdened and to remember that Jesus is on the throne.
It is no secret that we live in a time of political and cultural unrest. Many might be anxious about the years ahead and hopeless about cultivating peace in their communities. However, the best way to combat hopelessness and discouragement is with gratitude. Gratitude does not require being permanently happy or “faking it till’ you make it.” It simply requires creating space to acknowledge God’s good gifts, both big and small. Centering ourselves around gratitude will fill us with joy and peace and equip us to continue doing the justice-seeking work God has called us to.
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