Thanksliving: What Happens After Thank You?
It’s November, and it seems fitting that this month’s blog should focus on gratitude. As I began thinking and praying about what the Lord wanted me to share, I looked back over the blogs I’ve written about gratitude during previous Novembers. Honestly, I was at a loss. Surely everything that could be said about thankfulness had already been said!
A few days later while reading in 1 Thessalonians, I came across something Paul penned which caused me to stop and reflect. He provided a wonderful list of instructions for everyday Christian living, and, to no one’s surprise, gratitude made the list.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
However, what caught my attention wasn’t just this verse. It was also the two verses that preceded.
Rejoice always, pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–17)
When I read these three verses together, I noticed how rejoicing, prayer, and thankfulness fit perfectly together. Paul seemed to be describing more than three separate instructions. He was describing a way of life. It reminded me of a term someone coined years ago—thanksliving.
It is certainly not uncommon for gratitude to be expressed in our prayers around the Thanksgiving table. However, what would life be like if gratefulness became a way of living, an overflow of our relationship with Christ that influenced how we approach each day? To understand how thankfulness can become a way of life, let's examine what Paul had to say in 1 Thessalonians.
Rejoice Always
Rejoicing is a familiar term in Christian circles, but this verse takes on added meaning when we read it in the Amplified Bible. “Rejoice always and delight in your faith” (v. 16). Doesn't the phrase “delight in your faith” make you want to pause and consider what that really means? It does me. I think rejoicing always becomes much more attainable when we understand what it means to delight in our faith. In fact, it can become a natural outflow of that understanding.
Many believers think of faith as something we do. Yet Scripture reminds us that our salvation is a gift of God's grace. Ephesians 2:8 puts it plainly: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” In John 6:44, Jesus tells us that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws that person to Him. Yes, we must believe in Jesus as our Savior, but consider this. The holy God of the universe has drawn us to Himself! He made a way for us to know Him, not because we deserved it, but because of His grace. Isn't that something in which we should take delight?
There’s more! Through faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness of sin, freedom from guilt and shame, the opportunity to experience the abundant life He offers, and the promise of eternity with Him. These are just a few of the incredible gifts that are ours through Christ. Wow! How often do we stop and simply say, “Thank You, Lord, for saving me”?
When I reflect on these truths, rejoicing makes more sense. It doesn't mean everything in our lives will go well or that we will always feel happy. It means that even when life is challenging, we have reasons to rejoice that our circumstances cannot take away.
As educators, we know that not every day goes as planned. Some days bring wonderful moments of connection and progress. Other days leave us frustrated, weary, or wondering whether we're making a difference. However, our joy in Christ doesn't have to rise and fall with the success of our school day. We can delight in who God is and what He has done for us, even when the circumstances around us are less than delightful. Rejoice always and delight in your faith!
Pray Continually
Paul moved from rejoicing to prayer. I feel certain there's a connection here worth considering. Because of our faith in Jesus, we have the privilege of coming to God in prayer. We can talk with Him, bring Him our concerns, seek His wisdom, and thank Him for His goodness. Prayer isn't reserved for the beginning of the day, mealtimes, or bedtime. It is an ongoing conversation with the One who knows us and loves us.
Think about what that means for us as educators. We can pray for wisdom before responding to a demanding situation. We can ask for patience when our frustration begins to show. We can bring a struggling student, a concerned parent, or a discouraged colleague before the Lord. We can whisper a prayer of gratitude when we witness a breakthrough or see a student take a step forward.
Sometimes our prayers will be carefully thought out. Other times, they may be as simple as, “Lord, help me.” What a privilege it is to know we don't have to navigate our days alone! Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God. It keeps us connected to Him throughout the ordinary moments of our work and life. The more we pray and contemplate what God has done for us, the more gratitude becomes an overflow of the heart.
Give Thanks in All Circumstances
Finally, Paul told us to give thanks in all circumstances. Notice that he didn’t say we should be thankful for every circumstance. There is a difference. Some things we experience are painful, disappointing, and difficult to understand. We don't have to pretend otherwise. Yet even in those situations, we can remember God's goodness, hold on to His promises, and trust that He remains faithful.
Paul didn’t offer these instructions only for the good days. He knew that the Christian journey includes uncertainty, hardship, and seasons when we cannot see what lies ahead. Rejoicing, prayer, and thankfulness help us keep our eyes on the Lord through all of it.
This brings me back to thanksliving. When we recognize how much we have received from God, our gratitude can begin to shape the way we live. We can become more intentional about encouraging a colleague, extending patience with a student, expressing appreciation to someone who has helped us, or using our gifts to serve others well. We shouldn’t behave in this manner in an attempt to repay God for His grace. That is an impossibility. Instead, our lives can become a response to the grace we have received.
For those of us who serve in education, that means gratitude doesn't have to remain a private feeling or something we express only in prayer. It can be reflected in how we treat the people God places in our path and how we carry out the work He has given us to do.
Thanksgiving is something we express. Thanksliving is something we practice.
Paul made it clear that rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks are part of God's will for us in Christ Jesus. We may spend considerable time trying to discern what God wants us to do in a particular situation or season of life. These verses offer a reminder of what He desires for all of us as believers.
Better yet, we don't have to figure it out on our own. Just a few verses later, Paul reminded the Thessalonians that the One who calls us is faithful and will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24). What an encouraging promise! God is faithful to continue His work in us.
So, as we move through November and beyond, perhaps we should look at gratitude a little differently. Rather than focusing only on that for which we should be thankful, let's consider how our gratitude might shape the way we live. Here are a few simple ways to begin.
Voice your thanks. Take time each day to name the people and blessings God has placed in your life, and thank Him for them.
Express appreciation. Let a colleague, friend, or family member know how much you value something they've done.
Remember God's faithfulness. Reflect on a promise from His Word or a time when He sustained you through a difficult season.
Carry gratitude into your work. Ask God to help you serve the students, families, and colleagues in your life with a heart that reflects His love.
End your day with thanks. Before you turn your attention to tomorrow's responsibilities, take a moment to remember God's goodness, grace, and mercy.
I know I need these reminders, and perhaps you do, too. Our days can get so full that we forget to pause and recognize the gifts we've already been given. My hope is that gratitude will become more than a November focus for each of us. May it be an everyday response to the goodness of God and a reflection of the faith we profess.
Perhaps that's what happens after “Thank you.” We begin to live out our gratitude. That's the heart of thanksliving—letting our gratitude for what God has done in us shape what He does through us.
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If this message encouraged you, you'll find even more practical ways to reflect Christ in your school throughout our book, Taking Jesus to School: The Fruit of the Spirit on Display. Together we explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can transform the way we teach, lead, and serve every day. Learn more here: https://www.victoriouseducator.com/taking-jesus-to-school
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