Trusting God through Gratitude

In review of Colossians 2:7 it says, “Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving.”

Bottom Line:

As you build your life in Christ, it will help your faith grow because you are exposed to and taught the truth. This will result in a thankful heart.

What this means to me:

When I root and build my foundation in Christ, my faith will grow stronger in the truth that I will be exposed to and taught. This will result in a heart filled with thanksgiving.

What I’m learning is that an attitude of radical gratitude is God’s will for me because it develops my faith.

This happens when times are tough, when things don’t make sense, when I can’t figure it out, when my prayers seem to go unanswered, when everything is going the way I didn’t want or expect it to go.

Anybody can thank God for good things. But can I thank God even when the bad times arrive? What this passage reminds me is that my faith will grow stronger as my roots go deeper and I have a thankful heart.

Habakkuk was going through tough times. He said, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV).

In the midst of all the bad things that went wrong, Habakkuk rejoiced. What’s his cause of gratitude? “I will be joyful in God my Savior.” When everything else stinks in life, I can be grateful because the Lord is my Savior. He will pull me out. I am not alone. He hasn't abandoned me. So I give thanks to God!

The ultimate test of the depth of my faith will be, can I thank God when life stinks?

When I’m going through tough times, I shouldn't look at what’s lost. I should look at what’s left, and be grateful for it! I can be thankful to God just for being God. He has promised to see me through those tough situations, and my faith will grow even stronger because of it.

Today’s verse in Colossians 2:7 says, “Sink your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were taught, and overflow with thanksgiving” (GW).

God’s will is radical gratitude, in all things give thanks. Why? Gratitude honors God, it creates fellowship, and it develops my faith.

Just yesterday I had a rough day. Not much seemed to be going well and I was disappointed by reactions and requests from others at work. It was very depressing and energy draining. I felt my goals were being blocked from many angles. I started to have thoughts of what can I do to change jobs and get out of this.

I see now that God would have wanted me to turn to him and say, “God, I know you’re in control. I know you love me, and I know you can bring good out of this. I’m thankful that you’re bigger than my problems.” When things are not going to my plan, I am to give gratitude to God in order to honor Him. I am to reach out to him for closer in fellowship/comfort and then allow my faith in him to guide me. I am to trust him with gratitude.