God is Not Asking Us to Be Thankful—He’s Calling Us to Give Thanks

In her recent blogpost on gratitude, Bridget A. Thomas shared a quote from Joni Erickson Tada about giving thanks.

“God isn’t asking you to be thankful. He’s asking you to give thanks.”

Joni Erickson Tada

It got me to thinking about my heart posture. You see, there’s a difference between me being thankful and me giving thanks. After reading Bridget’s post, I realized it is worth reflecting on being thankful versus giving thanks. While thankfulness is a feeling—an attitude of the heart—giving thanks is an action. And God’s call to us is not merely about how we feel but how we respond.

Being thankful is primarily an emotional response we have when something good is happening in our lives. It’s easy to feel thankful when everything is going our way, when the table is full, and the laughter is loud. What about when life isn’t so kind? How thankful do we feel when we’re facing uncertainty, loss, or heartache?

That’s where giving thanks comes in. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

Notice, Paul doesn’t say “feel thankful,” but “give thanks.” This command pushes us beyond fleeting emotions or situational gratitude. It invites us into an active posture of recognizing and responding to God’s goodness, even in the midst of life’s challenges.

When we give thanks, we acknowledge God’s goodness, not because of what’s happening around us, but because of who He is. It’s not about denying the hard stuff or pretending everything’s okay. It’s about anchoring our hearts to the truth that God is faithful, even in the mess.

Gratitude in action transforms us.

When we pause to thank Him for who He is and what He’s done, we shift our focus from lack to abundance, from worry to worship. Thankfulness isn’t about what we have and what we lack. It’s about WHO God is. Giving thanks is an act of worship.

This Thanksgiving, let’s remember that gratitude isn’t just something we feel—it’s something we do. It’s in the small moments, like whispering a prayer of thanks for the sunrise, or telling someone how much they mean to you. It’s in the big moments, like choosing to praise God in the storm.

What can you give thanks for today?

Let’s not just be thankful this season—let’s give thanks, trusting that God will meet us right where we are. Worship God for who He is and all that He has done and continues to do in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rainer Bantau—The Devotional Guy™