The Power of Gratitude: Living as Children of God

From the December 7, 2025 Sermon

In a world drowning in discontent, where statistics reveal that three-quarters of Americans dislike their jobs and mental health struggles touch one in every two people, there's a crisis we cannot ignore. Our nation faces unprecedented rates of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. Cancer threatens one in three individuals. Suicide ideation haunts our teenagers. We are, collectively, struggling to smile.
Yet amid this darkness, there's a fundamental truth we've forgotten: gratitude isn't optional for those who follow Christ—it's commanded.

The Missing Foundation
Something profound has shifted in our culture. The foundation upon which this nation was built—faith in God—has crumbled in our schools, communities, and institutions. Even prison chaplaincy programs are being eliminated. Churches are closing their doors at alarming rates. In Texas alone, numerous congregations have ceased to exist, and nationwide, church attendance has dropped by nearly 25% over the past fifty years.
People aren't relying on God anymore. They're relying on themselves, their possessions, their achievements—and discovering these things cannot bear the weight of human existence.

Becoming Like Children
There's a reason Jesus told us we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Children possess something we adults have lost: an innate capacity for joy, trust, and dependence. They love unconditionally. They trust completely. Without their parents, they would be lost and confused.
That's exactly how God wants us to relate to Him—as His little children, dependent and trusting, filled with the simple joy that comes from knowing we're loved and cared for.
So why is it so difficult for us to smile? Why do we enter worship looking like we're attending a funeral rather than celebrating the greatest gift ever given? Why have we allowed bitterness, frustration, and complaint to replace the gratitude that should overflow from redeemed hearts?

The Choice We Make Every Morning
Each morning presents us with a choice. We can wake up with a positive attitude and cheerful heart, or we can embrace sourness and anger. Yes, life is difficult. Yes, we face legitimate hardships. But excuses are too easy, and God doesn't want to hear them.
Prayer must become the first thing we do, not an afterthought squeezed between obligations. Meditation on Scripture should be as essential as breathing. When we're truly in God's Word, when we're genuinely praying, that's when authentic happiness emerges—not from the latest iPhone or material possession, but from connection with our Creator.

Gratitude as Command
First Thessalonians 5:18 states clearly: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." This isn't a suggestion or helpful tip—it's a command. Gratitude should be a constant practice regardless of our situation.
But what does this mean practically? Does it mean pretending pain doesn't exist? Does it require us to deny legitimate grief when we receive devastating news about a loved one's cancer diagnosis or face other trials?
No. We're allowed to hurt. We're allowed to grieve. But even in our pain, we can maintain gratitude for the blessings that remain—for family, for shelter, for community, for salvation itself.
Romans 5:3-5 speaks about rejoicing even in suffering, which leads to perseverance and hope. This teaches that gratitude can transform our perspective, helping us see God's hand even in our trials.

Living the Lifestyle
Gratitude isn't a mask we wear or a performance we give. It's a lifestyle, woven into the fabric of who we are. Colossians 3:17 encourages believers "to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
This means gratitude must become as natural as breathing. It means wearing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—not as a costume but as our actual character.
Changing requires changing our lifestyle. If we want to grow spiritually, we must practice. Prayer, study, service, encouragement—these disciplines shape us into people of gratitude rather than complaint.

The Practical Call
When was the last time you sent an encouraging note to someone who was sick? When did you last call someone who lost a family member? Have you given to someone in genuine need? These aren't optional activities for Christians—they're fundamental responsibilities.
Matthew 5:16 reminds us to "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Our gratitude should overflow into action, into service, into tangible expressions of Christ's love.
The Psalms frequently call us to thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4 beautifully captures this: "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise." Gratitude should characterize our worship, our prayers, and our daily living.

The Heart of the Matter
We all have stories. We've all faced difficulties. The question isn't whether we'll encounter trials—Jesus promised we would—but how we'll respond. Will we blame others and wallow in bitterness? Or will we turn to God, allowing Him to transform our perspective through gratitude?
If you call yourself a Christian, a devoted follower of Christ, a disciple, you carry enormous responsibility. Your heart should be on fire for the Lord constantly. You should be ready to serve others at a moment's notice, using whatever gifts and talents you possess for the kingdom.
This isn't rocket science. It's as simple as two plus two. Yet we complicate it with excuses, busyness, and misplaced priorities.

An Invitation to Change
As the holidays approach, choose gratitude. Be grateful for family, for friends, for work, for the gift of salvation. Stop hiding your sorrow and pain—share it with your community so they can help bear your burdens.
Most importantly, recognize that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. If you want a faith that moves mountains, you must be in Scripture regularly, allowing it to shape your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
The doors of the church should never close because people are hurting and need help. Be someone who offers that help. Be someone whose gratitude is so contagious it transforms the atmosphere wherever you go.
In a world drowning in discontent, gratitude is revolutionary. It's countercultural. It's powerful. And it's exactly what God commands—and what our broken world desperately needs.