We should often remind ourselves to thank God for everything, from the smallest of material blessings to the largest of spiritual ones (1 Corinthians 15:57). We should keep a firm grasp on the fact that with Jesus Christ, we have all we need (Romans 11:36). Additionally, we can still appreciate the alternative blessings that He lavishes upon us. Refrain from letting the allure of the world captivate you into thinking that it is exclusively fame, money, power, influence, or materialism that will provide happiness (Romans 12:2).

If we play the comparison game, we will always find that we do not stack up on some level, which breeds envy, jealousy, and discontentment (Ecclesiastes 4:4, James 4:2-3). Instead, we must remember that our value stems from our identity as God’s children (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27). Additionally, He saw it fit to bless you with eyesight, internet access, shelter, and leisure time to learn about God and His Word. If you are alive and reading this, it is clear you are among the most blessed people on earth!

Hopefully, you already know Jesus Christ, but if you are not yet a believer, God has inspired you to read this article. Perhaps He prompted your heart and sparked a curiosity that led you to visit this page today. Do not chalk this up to mere coincidence. Today is the day of salvation, and there is no better time than the present to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior if you have not already done so (2 Corinthians 6:2). None of us should take for granted every day of mercy that God patiently provides for more people to come to saving faith through His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).

When I struggle through a difficult time, feel disappointed, frustrated, or otherwise find myself in a negative state of mind, I try to remember how fortunate I am. We live in an era of human history where most people live under better circumstances than the royalty of prior centuries. Yet, surprisingly, many of our most significant obstacles are often manufactured by excess indulgences, luxuries, instant gratification, and comfort. Therefore, we need to exercise discipline and self-control to avoid being consumed by these seductive pitfalls. Some things are a blessing as long as we practice moderation, but the minute we overdo it, those same blessings can become a problem (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

For instance, we can enjoy eating to some degree. Still, the moment we step into gluttony, we know we do more harm than good (Ezekiel 16:49, Philippians 3:19, Proverbs 28:7). It is reasonable to seek a life partner one day that we may eventually marry. Still, if we obsess about a specific person or idolize the gift of marriage, we set ourselves up for a rude awakening. Any time we attempt to substitute the longings in our hearts to worship and draw closer to God with anything else, we will not find lasting joy or satisfaction.

Notice that both of these examples can be blessings from God if they are done His way, in His timing, to the extent He desires for us (1 Corinthians 10:31, Proverbs 18:22, Genesis 2:18). However, we must be aware that even intrinsically good things can be detrimental to us. It is the Creator that we must worship, not His creation. The appetites of the flesh, including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are insatiable. We must not cater to them, for they have the potential to consume us (1 John 2:16, Romans 6:23). Limited and finite things, even other human beings, cannot fill the void that only an unlimited, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God can (Psalm 16:11).

I encourage you to reflect and take inventory today about what you are thankful for and whether God remains your primary focus. As long as we keep our eyes on our Savior and immerse ourselves in His will, we will find that we will run the race of this life with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1). He gives us all we need to press forward and enjoy the journey (Philippians 4:19). Therefore, do not put yourself in a position where you look back on this life and fail to maximize the time for His glory (Ephesians 5:15-18, 1 Corinthians 10:31). God’s will for you is to immerse yourself in His purpose in light of His calling upon your life (Romans 8:28). Anything less is not living up to His will for you. Delight in God and derive satisfaction from fulfilling that mission (Psalm 37:4-7). It is only a matter of time before we reach the finish line on this side of Heaven and enjoy eternal life with Him (2 Timothy 4:7).

It is such an attitude of gratitude that continually bolsters our disposition to be content. At least a handful of Bible verses offer us insight into why this is valuable, but ultimately they appear to point in the same general direction. Such understanding ought to provoke us to value God above everything else and recognize that He is everything. Without God, we are nothing, but if we put Him first, He is always faithful to provide us with exactly what we need (2 Corinthians 9:8). You and I may have an idea of what we feel would best suit us from our finite perspective, but God in His infinite wisdom knows what is best for us regarding His eternal plans and our eternal well-being (Romans 8:28). Thus, even in our gratitude, there ought to be an understanding that we value God Himself as our greatest treasure and not His provisions, no matter how wonderful some of those might be.

“6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

1 Timothy 6:6-12 (NKJV)

Contentment is particularly beneficial in getting rid of our worldly ambitions and replacing them with a desire to serve God. Instead of always trying to figure out our own best interests; it would be preferable to think about the future with a Biblical lens. It is this kind of lens that positions us to consider things from the vantage point of eternity. Of course, there is a place to enjoy things such as leisure, comfort, luxury, and personal care, but when these things become essential in our eyes, they can turn into hazardous distractions. Rather than serving to improve your life, they could hinder your focus away from God and cause you to stumble into idolatry. As such, we need to pray God would help free us from the love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evil. Likewise, it would benefit us greatly to diminish our love for the things of this world while our love for God and His Word increases.

Thanksgiving tradition emphasizes gratitude, but we should live a lifestyle of thankfulness daily. Furthermore, when we focus our attention on Jesus Christ, we find satisfaction that leads to contentment. When we rest our joy on our relationship with Jesus Christ, we can rest assured that no one will ever be able to take it away. Everything and everyone else can pass away, be lost, or even get stolen from us. Meanwhile, our joy centered in our Lord and Savior will remain now and forever. Our happiness can fluctuate up and down based on the consistent changes we experience on this side of Heaven. However, no matter how chaotic it may appear externally, God will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus Christ will always be there to lead the way for us as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Nothing else on the face of the earth can offer such certainty amid uncertain circumstances in the tumultuous world in which all of us currently reside.

If you are suffering, struggling, or otherwise do not feel as though you have a lot to be thankful for, I encourage you to take comfort in God and His Word. It does not matter if you are facing a health issue, financial crisis, mental health problems, or your family relations are in turmoil. You may even be out of strength to fight the battle on your own, and the solution may not seem obvious to you. However, God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). I want to encourage you that even if you cannot handle the trials, God will give you the help you need. Take a step of faith and start with prayer. Shift your attention to God and His Word instead of your battles. Soon you will realize that He will lift you in due time and help you confront your issues with strength, wisdom, confidence, and joy, among His other numerous provisions. It is critical to ask for His help in each of the problems you are facing in faith and obedience (Hebrews 11:6). Take a step in the right direction with His help. It does not have to be a giant one but start by getting the ball rolling with minor victories. Eventually, you will make progress as long as you do not grow weary in doing right (Galatians 6:9).

Sometimes if we want a significant shift in our lives, God may require us to make substantial changes. Ponder what those might be and seek God’s insight. Sit and listen to God through prayer and Bible study. It is only a matter of time before your next action step becomes clear to you. Don’t get stung by analysis paralysis because of too many areas demanding your attention. Perhaps instead of multitasking in such a situation, it would be prudent to consider prioritizing everything and addressing each issue accordingly, one at a time from most to least integral. We all only have 24 hours each day, and some of our struggles will require incremental adjustments to make progress. For example, if you plan to get out of financial struggles, you may need to set a budget and adjust your spending habits. It may take significant time for you to see substantial progress, but this kind of consideration would likely bear fruit if you exercise discipline and self-control over a sustained time horizon

Suffice it to say that in all circumstances, we need to find contentment as Paul did. He was imprisoned in a dungeon that likely makes modern prisons look like five-star hotel accommodations. But in all of this, he remained faithful, and God never abandoned him (Philippians 4:11-13). If God helped Paul, He could come through for you too. Don’t underestimate the power of prayer and wielding a willingness to obey God’s commands. In every circumstance, you find yourself in, and in every concern you have, make your requests known to God with thanksgiving in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). There’s no need to be anxious, worried, or afraid of an uncertain future when you serve the one true God with certainty (Matthew 6:34). After all, we should know and trust that He is sovereign over everything and provides us all we need. If nothing else, all of us believers can find real and lasting contentment in Jesus Christ. When we do, we will realize that everything else is trivial by comparison. Furthermore, He intends to bless us with peace, hope, and a future in Him forever (Jeremiah 29:11).