Hiding God’s Word – Gratefulness
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
According to the dictionary, gratefulness is “feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.” It’s showing an appreciation for benefits we have received. The Bible exhorts us to “Be thankful in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Now, I don’t know about you, but there have been many circumstances in my life where the very last thing on my mind is to be thankful! Or think about the victims of Hurricane Helene, the California wildfires, recent earthquakes. Not much to be grateful for there either!
But Billy Graham helps us understand why and how we can be grateful even under difficult circumstances. He writes,
“We draw back from difficulties, yet not one of us is exempt from some kind of trouble. In many parts of the world it is dangerous even to be a Christian because of persecution.
“And yet in the midst of those trials we can thank God, because we know that He has promised to be with us and that He will help us. We know that He can use times of suffering to draw us closer to Himself: ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance’ (James 1:2–3, NIV).
“When the prophet Daniel learned that evil men were plotting against him to destroy him, ‘he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before’ (Daniel 6:10, NIV).
“The Bible commands, ‘Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). Paul declared, ‘You will even be able to thank God in the midst of pain and distress because you are privileged to share the lot of those who are living in the light’ (Colossians 1:12, Phillips).
“I don’t know what trials you may be facing right now, but God does, and He loves you and is with you by His Holy Spirit. Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness even in the midst of trials and heartaches.”[1]
Now that you know what God expects you to do when difficulties come, here are some verses that reinforce the point. Choose 2 or 3 (or more) to memorize so you will have them in your heart and mind when difficulties come, and when you are struggling to be grateful.
1 Chronicles 16:34 – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 95:2-3 – Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
Psalm 100 – Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 5:20 – always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 13:15 – Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
- Billy Graham, “How to Be Thankful in All Things,” https://billygraham.org/story/how-to-be-thankful-in-all-things/. ↑
