Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18, NIV; emphasis mine)
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. (Ps. 35:18, NIV)
Last Sunday, October 15, 2017, in continuing with the Mindfield series at church, we had discovered a new landmine: entitlement or "entitle-itis." This is defined as the "spiritual disease that makes one believe that privileges are rights and benefits are to be expected as a matter of rights." Ptr. Peter Tan-Chi explained that the only way to defuse said landmine is to be grateful.
It seems like such a radical response. Before, I had always subconsciously thought that getting my way and the things that I wanted was the only remedy to my perpetual state of entitlement. Truth be told, I never thought that I was entitled because after all, what I wanted were "simple enough" things. Like scratched-up vinyl, I would incessantly yell out into the void (mostly in my head . . . and in cringey status posts), "I deserve love! I deserve some attention! I deserve some recognition for my work! I deserve parents who aren't so strict! I deserve a decent grade! I deserve higher pay! I deserve to splurge on makeup once in a while!"
When we really think about it, whatever it is that we think we deserve reflects the state of our hearts: what we value and prioritize and with what we associate our worth. It always goes back to US - to me, myself, and I.
And therein lies the problem. Our focus is on ourselves, but when we do shift our focus onto other things and other people, we compare. This then sows seeds of discontent and bears fruits of entitlement.
This is why being grateful is the perfect antidote. It shifts our perspective from a strictly "self-ist view" to one that helps us see that there is so much to be thankful for. More importantly, it acknowledges the ultimate Source of all the things we are thankful for.
But what about everything else - things that we're not thankful for, things for which seemingly only one with too many screws loose can say, "Thank you, Jesus"?
It's very easy to be grateful for a happy and healthy family, answered prayers, a faithful spouse, approved loans or vacation leaves, career growth, etc. But what about long and agonizing waiting seasons, God's silence and NOs, upturns in relationship dynamics, rejected thesis proposals, calamities, etc.?
I could be biting off more than I could chew with this topic as I'm struggling with learning in this area, and I suppose I will always be struggling 'til death brings me closer to my Father. It's a struggle because His ways and thoughts are higher (Isa. 55:9); but my mind and capacity to understand is so utterly weak, feeble, and human.
I don't know why God led me to giving up my primary source of happiness and love.
I don't know why God is letting me wait now, and I don't know what He's letting me wait for.
I don't know where God wants to put me as regards work and ministry.
I don't know why God allowed this pain in my mom that's strong enough to send her to the hospital less than a week away from her and my dad's special day.
I don't know why God is revealing things to me about certain patterns and recurring events in my family life, which could very well mean the exposing of some ugliness from years past.
There is so much more that I don't know, and I can only attempt to rationalize and speculate the HOWs and WHYs. But like everything that I had gotten used to before Jesus, doing so will only make me more anxious, prone to overthinking, discontented, and eventually entitled. And now we've gone full circle.
However, God and His command remain the same. We ought to be thankful in every circumstance - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the sublime. This command is given to us for a reason. And knowing God's love and faithfulness, I trust that this command is with our best in mind - so that our hope would rest in Him and we get to experience a joy so full that we won't feel like we lack anything (James 1:4).
So why don't we make a habit of it and start now? With this little prayer, may we all keep up an attitude of gratitude for hearts full of joy in the Lord - a joy that cannot be robbed.
Lord, I am feeling overwhelmed. There's a lot that I don't understand right now, but even so, I thank You! Thank You for being who You are, Father. For giving us more than we deserve - life, peace, joy, love, freedom, grace, and most importantly, Yourself - when You could have settled for condemnation and death.
Thank You for the wonderful blessings and for the things out of our control and beyond our understanding. They remind us, Father, how we can't do anything by ourselves and how willing You are to do the work and make us strong enough for the work You appoint to us.
Thank You for Your wisdom, Your protection, Your guidance, and Your sovereignty.
All these we lift up to You through Jesus Christ, Amen.
Stay golden, hupomone, and God bless you!
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