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It’s been exactly one month since COVID-19 regulations began impacting our lives. So I thank the Lord for seeing us through this month. We don’t know how long these restrictions will last. Nor do we know how long it will take to return to a new normal. We do need to face the challenges and difficulties of this time. But if we only focus on our lack or losses, it can lead to a pretty bleak outlook.

That’s where the practice of gratitude comes in. In his book Overcoming Anxiety, JP Moreland devotes one chapter to the role of gratitude or giving thanks. Here are some quotes I pulled out this chapter.

“Gratitude has one of the strongest links to mental health and satisfaction with life of any personality trait – more so than even optimism, hope or compassion.”

“Grateful people experience higher levels of positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, love, happiness and optimism, and gratitude as a discipline protects us from the destructive impulses of envy, resentment, greed and bitterness.”

“It helps us and requires a willingness to set aside the ‘negativity bias’ – the habit of seeing and feeling the world in a grumpy way – and replacing it with a positive outlook on life.”

“Gratitude is a heartfelt acknowledgment of a good gift that has value and that part of the source of that gift came from outside me.”

“Expressions of gratitude are the core of what we can do in dependence on God’s Spirit.”

As I thought about this while having my morning coffee, I was reminded of the many gifts I had already experienced. I had access to clean running water for a shower and a fresh cup of coffee. I didn’t have to go to a well to haul up water and carry it back to the house. The sun shone on my chair as I sat there, a reminder of the faithfulness of God and the warmth He provides by His presence. I had some moments with God’s Word free from the persecution of an authority who might rip the bible from my hands. I had some moments of quiet to gather strength from the Lord for the day ahead. Each one of these helped me look at my day differently than if I just plunged in to getting through my day.

But gratitude requires some effort. Moreland notes several obstacles to gratitude: A habitual tendency to be negative and worry; an inability to acknowledge dependence on others; internal psychological conflicts; comparing ourselves to others we perceive to be more fortunate; taking a victim mentality.
We might need to battle one or more of those obstacles.

But it’s not impossible. By God’s Spirit we can give thanks instead of being anxious. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Thank you Lord for your presence and concern for us today. Thank you for seeing us through one month of this. Thank you for running water and sunshine. Thank you for the wise counsel of others who have struggled with anxiety and overcome it through gratitude. Thank you for showing your care for us in sending Jesus. Thank you Jesus for identifying with us and dying for us. Thank you Spirit for empowering us towards gratitude.”