Trusting Jesus When Life Is Hard: A Study on John 6Exemplo

A Heart of Gratitude

Yesterday, we saw that the multitude following Jesus was directed to sit down. And we learned about the practice of choosing to be still before God.

After everyone was sitting, Scripture says:

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:11 NIV

Jesus did “the impossible” and generously fed the people! But don’t miss what came before the passing of the food. He gave thanks.

Giving and expressing gratitude to God is exemplified and stressed throughout the Bible. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul encourages the early church (and us) to give thanks in all circumstances.

This means we give God thanks when life is going great. But it also means we give Him thanks in the midst of our challenges. And that can seem like a difficult assignment until we remember that God never leaves us.

As Christians, gratitude realigns and renews our minds. Thanking God for who He is resets us to the “mind of Christ.” It takes our focus off our circumstances—as real and important to God as they are—and onto the ability and character of our Living Hope, Jesus. Gratitude helps us grow our relationship with Him.

The crowd was experiencing a real, physical need in their hunger. Imagine how they must have felt as they waited, seated there in the field, not knowing what would actually happen next.

Before providing the meal, Jesus modeled for us His top priority, His heart of gratitude, and His dependence on His Father. In doing so, He helped the crowd remember who the real provider of the miracle was: not just a man, but God.

When we choose to express our love and gratitude to God first and continually, our situations may not change, but it will always change us.

Journal: Develop a habit of starting and ending your day with prayers of thanksgiving to God. Why is it easy (or difficult) for you to thank God today? Name three things you can thank God for today.