June 1, 2026

To be thankful creates happiness

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Dear Readers,

today’s stamp from Germany features an imaginative, colorful design. It shows the small word “Danke” (that means „thank you “) in green letters written on bottom left. Presumably, this stamp allowed for a cheerful expression of thanks at first glance, even before the letter was opened. 

Gratitude is a major theme in the Bible. For example, the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the church in Thessalonica (Greece): Be thankful! Because that is what our God wants from us. And it is God’s will in Jesus for you as well to be thankful. The Lord Jesus Christ wants thankful people.

I don’t think the Christians in Thessalonica back then were any less thankful than we Christians are today. But we need to be reminded repeatedly to be thankful. Gratitude is easily forgotten. And being grateful is good for our mental health. In his TV documentary, the scientist and journalist Harald Lesch explained that gratitude can even make us happy. Those who are grateful look for the good in their daily lives or in the lives of others. Those who are grateful change their perspective in life.

Now the Apostle writes something very important. He does not say that we should be thankful FOR everything. That is impossible. No one can show gratitude for wars, famines, or personal crises. He writes that we should be thankful IN all situations of life. For example, when facing a serious illness, I can be grateful for medical care. I can be grateful for friends or family members who stand by my side during difficult times. I can be grateful to God for the Lord Jesus Christ, who gives me eternal life. I am grateful for God’s Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Helper (Gospel of John 14:26).

In his documentary, Harald Lesch drew attention to something I hadn’t known before. His advice: keep a writing journal and write down what you can be grateful for today. I think this is a great idea! How about if we made this a daily spiritual practice? Keeping a gratitude journal and writing down what I can be thankful for. And when I look back at the past days at the end of the month, I can read in the “Gratitude Journal” what I was thankful for in the weeks that have passed. Thank you, God, and to Harald Lesch as well, for this wonderful idea!

But it's not just saying thank you that makes you happy — singing does too! David, the great poet and musician, already knew that. He knew that grateful people love to sing! We Christians can sing to God in gratitude, whether alone or together with many others during our worship services:

Ps. 28, 7: My heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Ps. 35, 18: I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.

Let’s give it a try! A little notebook with some notes. And let’s thank God through songs or by making music. I’m convinced that in heaven, they rejoice over grateful people! 

Thank you for visiting me and listening to me. I look forward to seeing you again at the next short sermon on June 15. 

This text was translated using DeepL, edited by R. Jordan