Ten men with leprosy called out to Jesus for mercy, and all ten were healed as they went to show themselves to the priests. Only one of them came back to thank Him.
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15-16, NKJV)
All ten received the same mercy at the same moment. The other nine lacked nothing the Samaritan had. What set him apart was his decision to turn round and give thanks.
Gratitude Is Commanded
We tend to think of thankfulness as a feeling that should rise up on its own once life is going well. Scripture presents it as an instruction:
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV)
Paul wrote “in everything”, not “for everything”. The instruction applies in whatever situation we find ourselves, whether or not we feel thankful that day.
Like Watering a Field
A farmer in the dry season does not wait until he feels like watering his crops. The rains may be late and his strength may be low, but he carries water to the field each morning because the harvest depends on it. Biblical gratitude is more like that daily watering than a mood that comes and goes. It is practised.
Speaking to Your Own Soul
The writer of Psalm 42 was going through a dry and painful season, and he did not pretend otherwise. But he spoke firmly to himself:
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5, NKJV)
He did not wait to feel hopeful before he spoke. He told his own soul where to look.
Job’s Blessing in Loss
Job lost his children and his wealth in a single day, and soon afterwards his health. His first response was this:
“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21, NKJV)
His grief was real, and the chapters that follow show how deep it went. Even so, he chose to bless God’s name while he grieved.
Thankful While Losing a Business
Picture a man whose business is failing. At every prayer meeting he still thanks God for the roof over his family and for the friends who keep calling to check on him. When someone asks how he manages it, he says he has stopped waiting to feel thankful before saying so, because the waiting had already cost him years. He does not pretend the loss is painless. He has decided that his feelings will not determine whether God receives thanks. Over time, gratitude spoken before it is felt often reaches the heart that speaks it.
Honest Lament Still Has a Place
None of this means feelings are unimportant or that grief has no place in the Christian life. The Psalms contain more complaint than celebration, and God welcomes honest lament. There is a difference, though, between telling God plainly what hurts and refusing to thank Him until everything improves.
Before you sleep tonight, name a few things you can thank God for today, even if your feelings are slow to agree. Then do the same tomorrow.
