by Felix Arellano on September 30, 2024
I could see through the window the trees gently moving with the summer breeze as friendly faces made their way from the parking lot into the auditorium, the evening light behind them. With smiles as warm as the evening, people moved in a casual rhythm, all heading in the same direction. It’s a familiar view from the conference room at Timberline Church just before a Saturday evening service.
It’s easy to settle into a wonderful evening service with a cool Colorado summer setting the scene. As we took our seats around the conference table to touch base and pray as a team before the service, John Keith made an interesting announcement: “I had a flat tire on my way to church this evening, and I have five reasons to be grateful.”
John had our attention. Gratitude and the inconvenience of a flat tire aren’t often paired in the same sentence. I was especially intrigued. Everything about the picturesque evening brought me joy, but John’s evening was less than desirable, yet he had joy too.
John continued with his list:
1. “I’m grateful that I had a flat tire in a safe place—a parking lot. I could’ve been stranded on the side of a busy road.
2. My spare tire had air! I don’t remember the last time I had to change my tire. I could have easily discovered that my spare tire was flat.
3. I was able to loosen the lug nuts with no problem. They could’ve been too tight, leaving me with an additional problem.
4. I discovered that I still had the strength to change my flat tire on my own!
5. Lastly, I still got to church on time! I could have been miserably late and unable to fulfill my volunteer responsibilities, but by God’s grace, I made it on time.”
I was floored! I was moved by John’s example of a resilient kind of gratitude that stood in direct opposition to his unfavorable circumstances. In that moment, I knew he had given me a tool, one that I could use for myself and share with others. When life throws an unfortunate circumstance at you, can you pause long enough to list five reasons to be grateful in that moment? I know this mental exercise isn’t easy, but it’s a powerful reframe that forces you to channel your energy in a different direction.
Now, before you dismiss this practice as self-help psychology, think again. John Keith wasn’t the first person to surprise a group with a counter-cultural perspective. The prophet Habakkuk dropped a similar perspective when he wrote:
“Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
—Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)
Habakkuk listed out devastating circumstances that would paralyze the personal wealth and local economy of the day, and declared, “YET I will rejoice in the Lord,” directing his attention to the unchanging source of his joy—the God of his salvation.
We tend to think of joy as an emotion that responds to favorable circumstances. But this human tendency may contradict the spiritual practice we see in Scripture, where God has a habit of commanding His people to practice joy, regardless of their situations.
Consider the familiar Philippians 4:4 with this question in mind: Is this a suggestion or a command? “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Here’s another example:
Psalm 32:11: “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
Writer Savannah Lindel offers a helpful observation: “When you read through these verses, you quickly realize that joy is not a suggestion for the believer, but a command. In fact, it is one of the most repeated commands in the Bible.”
I understand that telling someone to list five reasons to be grateful in unfavorable circumstances may seem, to some, insincere. But take assurance—the goal isn’t to simply tell someone to be happy or put on a smile despite their difficulties. That would be insensitive. Instead, it’s about yielding to the Holy Spirit, making space for the fruit of the Spirit to grow inside of us. Joy, as a response, isn’t natural. It’s supernatural, evidence that God is working in you to change the world around you. This practice is about disciplining yourself to pause long enough to consider how God is worthy of gratitude. It’s asking for His divine help to see what He sees in the moment and to realign your perspective with His.
In his article Joy Is Not Optional, David Mathis offers this encouraging perspective: “To hear that joy is not optional lands on some ears with promise and hope. If joy is essential, then it must mean that joy is possible. In a world of sin and suffering, mess and misery, it is good news to hear that joy is possible.”
What can you celebrate today? Asking this question can help you see your life in a new light and recognize the ways God is working that you might have missed. No matter what’s happening, your faith in God gives you a reason to celebrate.
The prophet Habakkuk shared the tough reality he was facing. Everything was falling apart, but he still chose to trust God and find joy. Habakkuk found joy because he knew that God’s faithfulness and love were unshakable.
Next time you find yourself in disappointing circumstances, write down five reasons to be grateful. Condition your mind to choose joy despite your circumstances. There’s always an opportunity for gratitude. Even in the midst of challenges, we can find peace and joy in knowing that God is always doing something good, even if we can’t see it right now.
Sources:
Joy Is Not Optional by David Mathis
Does God Want Me to Be Happy? by Savannah Lindell
Scripture Citation:
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)
Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.
Psalm 32:11 (NKJV)
New King James Version Bible. (1982). Thomas Nelson.
