The Thanksgiving Telescope
It’s the day after Thanksgiving (at least in America)! While Thanksgiving may not be a holiday in the UK, I love the idea of a day set aside for gratitude. That said, for Christians, thanksgiving is meant to be much more than an annual event - it should be a way of life.
Magnifying Problems or Magnifying God?
David says in Psalm 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving” (NKJV). The word "magnify" has two distinct uses when it comes to size. Often, we think of magnifying as making something small appear larger - like using a microscope or a magnifying glass to look at something tiny. But magnify can also mean bringing into focus the true scale of something massive, as a telescope does. A microscope makes a small thing look bigger than it is, while a telescope helps us see a vast object in a way that begins to reflect its real size.
In Psalm 69, David isn’t suggesting we make God seem bigger than He is - for one, that’s impossible! Instead, he’s calling us to see God more as He truly is, even though His greatness is far beyond our full comprehension.
Thanksgiving is like a telescope that reveals the vastness of something huge. It brings the grandeur of God into sharper focus, reminding us of His greatness and goodness. Complaining does the total opposite. When we complain, we put a magnifying glass on our frustrations and end up amplifying our problems. But thanksgiving redirects our focus. It invites God to work in our circumstances and changes how we see the world. In fact, it has incredible physiological benefits too; as studies have shown, it can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and increase overall joy.
The Danger of an Entitlement Mindset
In the comfort of the Western world, it’s easy to take things for granted. Most of us don’t have to worry about access to clean water, food on the table, or toilets. These are blessings millions around the world long for, yet how often do we stop to thank God for these everyday provisions? Dietrich Bonhoeffer was right when he said, “We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts”. Instead, we slip into a ‘first world problems’ mindset. We grumble about slow Wi-Fi, long queues at the supermarket, or getting stuck in traffic, forgetting how fortunate we are even to have the possibility of experiencing these ‘problems’. After all, owning a computer, having the money to buy food, and the means to travel are blessings in themselves. When left unchecked, this sense of entitlement blinds us to the many blessings already in our lives.
How Gratitude Changes Our Focus
Gratitude shifts our perspective. Instead of dwelling on what we lack, it helps us focus on God’s faithfulness and sustaining presence. Even in hardship, we can follow Paul’s instruction to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Paul isn’t telling us to give thanks for the hard times but to give thanks in them.
Even in difficulties, we can adopt David’s approach in Psalm 77:11-12: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago”. Reflecting on God’s past faithfulness strengthens our confidence in His future provision. More than that, Psalm 100:4 reminds us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise”. This means that thanksgiving can take us into God’s presence - and it is here that we can find peace, joy, and strength.
Looking at Life Through the Right Lens
How big is God in your eyes? Are you magnifying your problems, or are you magnifying God? Too often we see God as small and our problems as far too big. Looking at life through the magnifying glass of complaint can make our challenges seem overwhelming, but using the telescope of thanksgiving shifts our focus to God’s greatness.
Thanksgiving is a daily discipline - a choice to focus on God’s goodness and a testimony to the world of His faithfulness. Cultivating a lifestyle of thanksgiving starts with intentionality. Try beginning and ending each day by thanking God for something: when you wake up, thank God for the gift of another day; before bed, reflect on one blessing - big or small - from the day.
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, but the spirit of thanksgiving doesn’t have to end. When we practise gratitude, it’s like holding up a telescope for others to see through, revealing God’s goodness through our lives. And perhaps, as they look, they too will begin to see God as He truly is - faithful, loving, and powerful.