The Grace of Living with Gratitude
“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 (NLT)
Autumn is a season many cherish. The cool breeze, the high blue sky, and fields full of ripened grain and fruit gently nudge our hearts toward gratitude. It is a season when we pause from busy routines, enjoy time with family, and take in the colors of creation. As Thanksgiving approaches, this moment invites us to reflect on what it means to live with a thankful heart.
Yet when we look at our world, a paradox emerges. If material abundance were the true source of gratitude, shouldn’t we be more content than ever? There was once a report claiming Bangladesh ranked first on a global happiness index, while South Korea—far wealthier by most standards—was recorded as the OECD nation with the highest suicide rate. These striking contrasts show that gratitude is not determined by what we possess but by where our eyes are fixed.
A prison and a monastery may share similar discomfort and lack of freedom. Yet one is filled with resentment, the other with prayer and praise. Gratitude does not bloom from circumstances. It springs from a heart that looks toward God.
Scripture testifies to this truth through the early church. The Christians we meet in Acts did not worship in peaceful sanctuaries. Many gathered in the underground catacombs of Cappadocia, hiding to protect their faith. Under Roman persecution—especially the cruelty of Emperor Nero—believers suffered imprisonment, torture, confiscation of property, separation from family, and even death, simply because they confessed Jesus as Lord.
The church in Thessalonica lived in such hardship. Poverty, scattered families, loss of homes and livelihoods, and the threat of martyrdom marked their reality. Yet Paul praised them for their “work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope” (1 Thessalonicans 1:3). Their joy and gratitude became an example to all believers. To these suffering saints, Paul delivered God’s will in one of the most concise commands in Scripture:
“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances.”
This is not a suggestion. It is the will of God for His people in Christ.
Gratitude is not a mere expression of positive emotion. It is the fruit of faith that trusts God’s sovereign goodness. Joy flows from communion with Him, and prayer anchors us so that gratitude does not fade in adversity.
The origins of Thanksgiving also remind us that gratitude often takes root in seasons of desperation. In 1620, English Puritans sailed on the Mayflower seeking freedom to worship according to Scripture. Their journey across the Atlantic was treacherous, and the winter upon arrival proved devastating. Of the 102 passengers, 44 died within the first months due to hunger, disease, and the cold. Those who survived faced continual fear and uncertainty.
Then God sent help through Indigenous neighbors who shared food and taught them how to cultivate the land. Through this providential care, the Pilgrims celebrated a bountiful harvest the following year and held a worship feast of thanksgiving to God. The first Thanksgiving was not a celebration of wealth but a humble acknowledgment of God’s preserving grace—life given where death seemed certain.
The story of the Korean church bears a similar witness. From the martyrs at Jeoldusan during the Joseon dynasty to the believers who stood against Shinto shrine worship under Japanese rule, and through the horrors of the Korean War when many were imprisoned or killed for their faith—God’s people endured. Even in the long years of poverty that followed, Christians gave faithfully, prayed earnestly, and worshiped joyfully. Gratitude marked their identity as God’s people.
Proverbs 17:1 says,
“Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.”
True abundance is not measured by what fills the table, but by what fills the heart.
When we compare our lives today with the early church or the faith of those before us, we find ourselves surrounded by freedom and provision they never knew. Yet grumbling seems to grow while gratitude shrinks. That may be one of the greatest spiritual dangers of our age.
Paul’s exhortation is therefore desperately needed today:
Rejoice always.
Pray constantly.
Give thanks in everything.
This is God’s will for you.
God calls us to fix our eyes not on shifting circumstances, but on Himself. Gratitude is faith that rests in His sovereign care. When we give thanks, every moment of life becomes an act of worship.
As we enter this season of harvest and thanksgiving, may our hearts return to the God of grace. May we remember what He has done. And may gratitude reshape not only this season but every part of our lives.
Beyond a season of thanksgiving, may we live a life of thanksgiving.
About Author
Choi Jong Eui
Pastor, teacher, and writer committed to connecting Christian faith with everyday life. He writes with the hope of praising the Lord and faithfully completing the mission entrusted to him, bearing good fruit to the glory of God.
