Living as a Grateful People

Take a moment to reflect on this past week. How grateful have you been? Have you found yourself thanking God for His goodness, or have disappointment, frustration, and worry dominated your thoughts?

At AMAC Faith, we intentionally avoid politics. Our purpose is to encourage spiritual growth through biblical truth, not political commentary. But last Tuesday’s midterm elections provide a timely opportunity to put into practice what we discussed last week. For many conservatives, the results were deeply disappointing, raising concerns about the future of our country.

But here’s a question worth considering: How have we responded?

Last week, we looked at David’s response to suffering in Psalm 69. Despite facing overwhelming circumstances, David declared, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30 (opens BibleGateway in a new tab), ESV).

We discussed how gratitude is more than a private feeling. It can be a powerful public witness, especially when our circumstances give us little reason to celebrate. David didn’t wait for his problems to disappear before expressing gratitude. He chose to magnify God in the middle of them.

So, think back over your conversations this week. When discussing the election with friends, family, or coworkers, did you magnify God with thanksgiving? Did your words reflect confidence in His sovereignty, or were they dominated by frustration, fear, and disappointment?

If you’re feeling a little convicted, I think we can all relate. But here’s the good news: Today is a fresh opportunity to respond differently.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

One of the greatest reasons we have to be grateful is that God’s promises are not dependent on our circumstances. Governments change. Political leaders come and go. Nations rise and fall. But God’s Word and His purposes remain.

Jesus made this clear in the Sermon on the Mount: “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18 (opens BibleGateway in a new tab), ESV)

An “iota” refers to the smallest letter, while a “dot” describes even the smallest distinguishing stroke of a letter. Jesus was emphasizing the enduring authority of God’s Word. Not even its smallest detail would be set aside before God’s purposes were accomplished.

Think about what that means. The God who created the universe has revealed His will and purposes, and nothing can prevent Him from accomplishing what He has promised.

And Scripture makes it clear that this includes His authority over earthly governments. Daniel 2:21 (opens BibleGateway in a new tab) declares that God “changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.” Psalm 103:19 (opens BibleGateway in a new tab) reminds us, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

Every president, senator, representative, judge, and government institution operates under the ultimate authority of Almighty God. They may not acknowledge Him. They may even actively oppose His commands. But none can escape His sovereignty.

This doesn’t mean that every decision made by our leaders is good, or that we should become indifferent to the direction of our country. As Christians, we have a responsibility to stand for truth, pursue justice, and love our neighbors.

But our confidence must never rest in political victories, and our gratitude must never disappear with political defeats. Our hope is anchored in something far greater.

When What Looks Like Defeat Is Actually Victory

In his book King’s Cross, pastor and author Tim Keller explores a powerful truth illustrated by the crucifixion of Jesus.

Imagine being one of Jesus’ disciples as the events surrounding His crucifixion unfolded. They had left everything to follow Him. They believed He was the promised Messiah, the One who would redeem Israel. They had witnessed His miracles, heard His teaching, and placed their hope in Him. And now He was dying.

From their perspective, it must have seemed like the worst possible outcome. Their hopes were shattered. Their future was uncertain. Everything they thought God was doing appeared to be falling apart.

But what they couldn’t see was that the very event they considered their greatest defeat was actually God’s greatest victory. Through the suffering and death of Jesus, God was accomplishing the salvation of the world. What appeared to be the triumph of evil was, in reality, the greatest demonstration of God’s love in human history.

The disciples couldn’t understand it at the time. But God was at work, even when they couldn’t see it. And isn’t that an important reminder for us today?

We see only a small portion of what God is doing. We evaluate circumstances through the limited lens of our own experiences, expectations, and understanding. We celebrate when things go the way we hoped and become discouraged when they don’t.

But God sees the whole picture. Romans 8:28 (opens BibleGateway in a new tab) reminds us that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

That doesn’t mean everything that happens is good. It means that God is so powerful, wise, and sovereign that He can accomplish His good purposes even through circumstances we would never have chosen.

And if God could accomplish the greatest good in human history through what appeared to be the greatest tragedy, shouldn’t that give us confidence in His ability to govern the circumstances of our lives today?

So, Let's Be a Grateful People

As Americans, we begin our nation’s Constitution with three familiar words: We the People.

Those words remind us of the extraordinary responsibility and privilege we have as citizens of this country. We can vote, speak freely, participate in government, and work toward a better future for our children and grandchildren.

But as followers of Jesus Christ, we belong to an even greater kingdom, one that cannot be shaken by elections, economic uncertainty, or the decisions of earthly leaders.

So let’s continue to be engaged. Let’s stand for what is right. Let’s pray for our leaders, love our neighbors, and faithfully exercise the responsibilities God has entrusted to us.

But above all, let’s be a grateful people.

This week, let’s be intentional about our conversations. Instead of simply expressing our frustrations, let’s look for opportunities to magnify God with thanksgiving. Let’s remind one another of His faithfulness, His promises, and His sovereign authority over all creation.

Because while we may not know what tomorrow holds, we know the One who holds tomorrow.