Thankfulness Should Be Our First Response

I woke up on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, and did my daily devotional. Afterward, I planned my day intending to complete multiple tasks quickly. I had everything planned and coordinated. However, to my surprise, when I walked into the garage, I couldn’t believe what I saw: the hot water heater expansion tank leaking water onto the garage floor. My first response was not one of gratitude. Immediately, I considered how my plans would be significantly altered as I tried to resolve the continuous water flow from the faulty expansion tank. I was so distraught by the unexpected challenge in the garage that I overlooked the water cut-off tool beside the water heater. I thank God for my neighbor’s assistance in cutting the water off at the primary cut-off valve.

Before I shut off the water at the primary valve, I took a picture of the leaking expansion valve and sent it to my plumber. Unfortunately, he was at work and couldn’t respond to my dire request for assistance. Thus, I wrestled with how to quickly resolve my plumbing issues to complete multiple tasks planned for that day. During a brief moment of pondering my options, the Lord God spoke, and I listened as He said, “Count your blessings. It could have been worse. Don’t complain about not being able to reach your plumber. Today, you will be the plumber, and count your blessings that you have the money to purchase everything needed for the repair.” Honestly, what I heard from God wasn’t what I wanted to hear. But God kept speaking to me and said, “The water is off. Now go in the house and watch some YouTube videos about changing an expansion tank for a hot water heater.” After watching several YouTube videos, I mustered the courage to tackle the project, made my way to Lowe’s, purchased the needed items, returned home, and successfully replaced the expansion tank. Needless to say, after I had completed the repair, my plumber called. I told him how I replaced the expansion tank, and he approved the repair based on the steps I provided.

Replacing a hot water heater expansion tank was not part of my original planning for November 1, 2022. However, God had other plans and lessons He wanted to teach me through the ordeal. One of the main lessons I needed to embrace was the principle of thankfulness and appreciation, no matter what’s going on in my life, whether expected or unexpected. In her explanation for thankfulness, Meredith Gold says, “It’s very easy to get lost in nagging and complaining when you always focus on what’s wrong, how your plans have been interrupted, and what you are facing that looks insurmountable or daunting to you.” During my morning crisis, I initially focused on the wrong thing: a faulty hot water expansion tank. As a result, internally, I complained about my plans being ruined for the day because of the time I needed to replace the expansion tank.

I should have said, “Lord, thank you for giving us shelter and a place to live. Thank you that Tia could prepare for work before I turned the water off in the house. Thank you for not allowing the expansion tank to fail during the night, and leak more than it did. Thank you for the technology and tutorials that we have for self-education for do-it-yourself repairs.” I didn’t take this approach, and my initial thoughts and actions were antithetical to the biblical text where the apostle Paul said, “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18, NASB). The New Century Version reads: “and give thanks whatever happens” (1 Thess. 5:18, NCV). No matter what happens to us, we should always maintain an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness.

One of the most challenging things we can do in life is to possess and maintain an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. However, we should be vigilant in approaching all situations with gratitude. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul helps us to see that thankfulness is a supernatural disposition. By nature, we are not thankful. Instead, we are inclined to complain. However, we can address every circumstance with gratitude through God’s grace.

Furthermore, Paul also helps us to see that thankfulness should never be limited to good times in our lives. During good times and bad times, God expects us to be thankful and allow Him to be the source of gratitude and appreciation. Finally, we should thank God for modeling and shaping our character through each moment of adversity that comes our way. Each time we rejoice in unfavorable conditions, we strengthen our character and become better prepared for future moments when additional unfavorable moments may arise. 

Eventually, I completed every task that I had planned for Tuesday, November 1, 2022. However, I had to work well into the night to get essential items completed. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t trade the extra time for learning to ensure my initial response is always one of gratitude versus complaining. Moving forward, I pray your initial response will be one of thankfulness instead of complaining.