What Gratitude Does For You—And Everyone Around You

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Sandra hated her job—and everyone around her knew it. But a small shift toward gratitude changed not only her attitude, but her heart, her home, and even her workplace.

Every night Sandra would come home and complain about how difficult it was to get along with her co-workers, how her boss was overbearing and the workload impossible. Her family was growing tired of her nightly grumbling sessions.

Sandra followed Jesus, but the reality she lived in wasn’t the Jesus way. The Bible teaches, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Then a wise friend challenged Sandra to try writing down things she was thankful for every night after work. It wasn’t easy at first, but little by little, something shifted. Her family was relieved and grateful for the change in Sandra! Then, coworkers began to ask, “What’s different about you?” “It was a small shift, and it was difficult to make. Now I’m filled with such peace!” Sandra says.

What does gratitude do in us? First, scripture says, “ … this is God’s will for you who belong in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18b). God says living a life of gratitude is the way He intended us to live. He knows that when we thank Him, even in hardship, our eyes are taken off our struggles and lifted to Him, the giver of all good gifts.

And, as Sandra found, there’s a direct connection between our gratitude and God’s peace. The Bible says, “ … thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:6-7).

What if today, instead of grumbling, you chose gratitude—and let God’s peace meet you there?