People just do not realize how much God has done for them. Think about this, God sent His only son to die for our sins so that we have a chance for salvation. Jesus knew no sin, but became sin and was therefore the ultimate sacrificial lamb. However, do we ever take the time to thank God for what He did? My guess would be no.
Once we have a little taste of what God has offered, we want more and more. The problem is that when we ask, we expect God to always say yes, but sometimes the answer should be wait or no. Do we thank God when He says no or to wait? I would bet the answer is typically no. The problem is not that we are asking God, but what we are asking from God. However, we just do not like it when the answer is no.
When things do not seem to be going your way, do you tell God thanks? Again, my guess would be no. It is very easy to be thankful when everything is going great, but we do not like it when things get tough. In fact, we really want things to go our way and be easy for us all the time. However, some of the greatest lessons are learned when times get tough. It really brings out who you really are.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
It is hard to be thankful in all circumstances. Lets face it, who wants to be thankful when you lose all your money or you lose all your possessions or you go to jail or you get divorced or you lose your job and the list could go on and on. However, stop to think why it may have happened. God may be trying to send you a message and in fact He may be trying to save your life from eternal damnation and the only way He can get through to you is by allowing you to suffer for a time.
John 14:13-14 New International Version (NIV)
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Matthew 7:7-8 New International Version (NIV)
Ask, Seek, Knock
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
People typically take these two passages the wrong way. They think that if they ask they shall receive, but what they are missing is that if you are really following Jesus and He is your Lord and Savior, then you will be asking what God wants you to ask. This is not scripture on ask and get rich. However, a lot of people will ask for money or possessions or something that they think will satisfy their own personal needs. What they are missing is that it is not about satisfying your needs, but doing God’s work. In other words, people need to stop being so selfish and start thinking of others.
If you are having trouble saying “Thank You!” to God, then I urge you to take a step back and really evaluate your life. There is always something to be thankful for even during the hard times. Those hard times may have saved your life and you never realized that it did.