Thirtysomethings

BY SARAH SARGENT

Think about the last time you were in the middle of a conversation, and thought, “I told you so.” You had warned this friend of a particular potential outcome, and this conversation just confirmed you were right. Or you suggested to an overly dramatic teenager that maybe they were reading too much into a situation, and they announce they had made up with their friends. It’s possible you did more than think, “I told you so,” maybe you said it! Have you ever wondered if God thinks, “I told you so,” with us? Often as I am studying for an article or speech, I love when my medical, social, and cultural research validates the Word of God.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV).

I have grown up in church my entire life. “Being thankful” has been the topic of plenty of Sunday School lessons, youth group messages, women’s devotions, and sermons that I have heard. I have even participated in the social media thankfulness posts around November. But God gave me a big “I told you so” moment when I was studying for our April Flourish event. I was asked to participate by sitting on the “Grace” panel and I shared about showing grace online. With all the unfortunate negativity associated with social media, I wanted to highlight Christians’ opportunity to show the world something different. Here is a little of what I shared with them.

Have you ever heard of ‘Lifestyle Gratitude’? This is taking time every day to write down or to say three things for which you are grateful—it can be big or small. By doing this simple task consistently, you will begin to see the world around you differently. When we are openly grateful for the good things in our lives, it causes us to be happy when something good happens in others’ lives. We won’t feel like they are winning at a competition we seem to be losing. Studies show that practicing ‘lifestyle gratitude’ has led to higher levels of optimism, enthusiasm, and motivation.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 ESV).

God inspired many authors in the Bible to write about gratitude. He did so because He knows the value of it. Only when you finally give thanks, will you have joy. Why? Because being joyful doesn’t make you grateful, being grateful makes you joyful. Sisters, we have so much for which we can be thankful! Let’s practice gratitude generously. This daily exercise will not only make us feel better; it will also show the glory of our God to all we meet.

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23 ESV)