Thanksgiving Despite Our Feelings
The only true thanksgiving is that which responds to God's goodness every day. But many who profess Christianity do not do this because they do not feel like it. That is, their feelings are made the reason or non-reason for thankfulness instead of God's goodness. They would think themselves cruelly treated if some one whom they had loaded with benefits would offer no grateful response on the ground that he did not feel like it. Why not thank God despite our feeling, whether we feel like it or not. Make it a principle in the life—feeling or no feeling, dyspepsia, ill-treatment by friends, bad investments or any trouble—that you will thank God daily for His continued and abundant mercies, and that you will show your gratitude by being kind and helpful to others and faithful in responding to the calls of God. It is your life to do this. “That man may last, but never lives,
Who much receives, but nothing gives,
Whom none can love, whom none can thank,
Creation's blot, creation's blank.”
“Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth Me,” declares the great God. It opens the heart and mind Godward, and lifts above the petty cares and troubles. Then “in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”