They Cannot Share A Room

Why Gratitude Takes Up The Entire Space

Gratitude shifts our attention onto God. It’s the Master of shifting the attention to God. It doesn’t even take a long time. It starts its work immediately. The rooms that were full of complaining, entitlement, fear and self-focus. The hearts that struggle to want the credit. The minds bombarded with all the worries in the world. Gratitude can’t share the room. It takes up the entire space.

And that, my friends, is why we are admonished "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Funny isn’t it— How we so desperately want to know what God’s will is— all the time? WHAT IS NEXT, GOD— all caps because we yell it at Him, demanding His best ideas be forced into our minuscule boxes of human reasoning.

What is next God? Why are you holding out on me? But there it is— His will for today in plain and simple English. In everything give thanks.

The 2 major things that Gratitude cannot share a room with are self-praise and self-focus.

Self Praise

I have always felt nervous about entitlement—I always immediately think of Proverbs 27:2— ^“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” Maybe because it feels spiritually dangerous to me. To say in regards to our Kingdom work “I have sacrificed so much” is 100% opposite of what this Scripture is admonishing us to do. In fact, we are to make little of our “much”.

The heart of Entitlement is “I deserve more.” The heart of self-praise measures. It dangerously counts what we’ve given, what we’ve sacrificed, what we deserve now. Entitlement counts every sacrifice, every sleepless night, every ounce of our own effort. It whispers, “You have done so much.”

Why We Struggle to Speak Honestly in Gratitude

• “I am sad.”

• “I am lonely.”

• “I have sacrificed so much”

• “I have not been noticed”

• “I am worried.”

• “I am wonderful.”

These statements feel true. And while there might be a seed of truth in them, we are called to remind ourselves in these moments of much higher truths.

Each of these statements can lean heavily into self-focus if left unchecked. Sadness may drift into self-pity, loneliness into resentment, worry into faithlessness, and even wonder at oneself into pride.

But gratitude transforms these words that better reflect God’s truths:

• “I am sad, but You are my Comforter.”

• “I am lonely but I thank You that You never leave me.”

• “God is not unrighteous to forget my work and labour of love…” (Hebrews 6:10).

• “Father, even when others overlook me, You never do.

• “I am worried but I am grateful You carry my burdens.”

• “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I give You glory.”

Gratitude doesn’t erase human feelings; it reframes them in light of God’s presence. Gratitude leans close and says, “Look around—look what God has done.”Gratitude doesn’t keep score of Kingdom sacrifice. How could it? Gratitude whispers, “Thank You, Lord, for all I have been able to give.”

When entitlement sits in the room, it takes the place of Gratitude. When our heart murmurs, resentful and weary— let us recall— every breath, every opportunity, every moment given—even the strength to sacrifice—is God’s mercy towards us.

Nothing more.

Self-Focus

Self-focus is a room with mirrors. This room is capable of reflecting only what you can see of yourself. How sad we are, how lonely we are, how worried we are, how wonderful we are…If we are constantly focused on ourselves and our circumstances, we are not able to have gratitude.

When we are grateful, our isolation immediately softens. Gratitude draws our attention away from loneliness to relationships, to community, and to the constant presence of God. As we begin to notice the gifts already in our lives, the feeling of isolation fades. As we focus on the awareness of others, we are less consumed with our own feelings— more aware of God’s presence in our lives. His promise to ‘be a friend that sticks closer than a brother’ is most real in these times.

Let Me Tell You Something Good

When we are grateful, we see our purpose as part of a larger story. Gratitude forces self-pity to lose its grip. Our heart notices provision, not just lack. When we are grateful, boasting becomes impossible. Gratitude humbles us, reminding us that our talents, health, and opportunities are gifts, not trophies earned. The desire to proclaim our own greatness diminishes when our hearts are full of thanks.

Gratitude will not share a room. True gratitude turns its gaze outward, upward, beyond the mirror to the Giver of every good gift. Self-focus says, “Look at me.” Gratitude says, “Look at Him.”