The Bible tells us to be thankful, but some days it feels like that command was written for someone else. When life goes sideways, when plans crumble, or when the car refuses to start in the cold, “thank you, Lord” does not exactly roll off the tongue. The truth is, we do not always feel thankful. Paul’s admonition to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) can sound overly cheerful to those trudging through disappointment or pain. Yet gratitude, in Scripture, is not tied to circumstance but to confidence—confidence that God remains faithful even when our feelings falter. When Paul declared, “I can do all things through Christ,” (Philippians 4:13) he was not bragging about strength training; he was describing the secret of contentment—how to sing in the sunshine and in the storm. Still, I sometimes wonder: isn’t it hypocritical to say “thank you” when you don’t feel it? Shouldn’t sincerity count for something?
Nike says, “Just Do It.” Scripture might paraphrase that to mean, “Just Thank Him.” Gratitude is not hypocrisy when it’s obedience. When we thank God through gritted teeth, it’s not false piety; it’s faith in motion. Feelings may lag behind, but obedience often leads the way. Many of us have practiced “hypocritical Thanksgiving” in the wrong way—smiling through gritted teeth at family dinners, pretending to be grateful for the casserole no one can identify. True thanksgiving, however, is not about pretending; it’s about trusting. When we say “thank you” even in sorrow, we are not trying to impress anyone—we’re inviting the Holy Spirit to transform our outlook. Gratitude is not always spontaneous; sometimes it’s strategic. Like exercise, it feels forced at first, but afterward, the heart beats stronger. Our duty to give thanks opens the door for God to change duty into delight.
Matthew Henry once demonstrated this kind of holy humor after being robbed. In his diary, he wrote, “Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.” That is gratitude with perspective. Paul told the Ephesians, “Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20) Jesus modeled this when He gave thanks before breaking the bread that would symbolize His suffering. Even in His darkest hour, thanksgiving preceded the miracle. Real gratitude is not about how we feel—it’s about who He is.