The Heart of Gratitude
Sermon by Pastor Glen Lim
1 November 2026
Series: Living the Entrusted Life
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Living the Entrusted Life
Pastor Glen begins a new sermon series with the sub-theme “Living the Entrusted Life” — living faithfully with the life and work God has entrusted to us.
Every believer has been entrusted with time, talents and treasures. We are not saved simply to wait for heaven. God has placed us here so that our lives can point our families, friends and others towards Jesus.
To live this entrusted life well, however, we need something foundational:
A heart of gratitude.
Pastor Glen challenges us to examine ourselves with a simple question:
Am I a grateful person, or have I become a complaining person?
It is easy to thank God when everything is going well. The real test often comes when circumstances turn against us.
What comes out of our hearts then?
Giving Thanks in Every Circumstance
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, Paul tells believers:
Rejoice always.
Pray continually.
Give thanks in all circumstances.
Notice that Scripture tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, not necessarily for everything that happens.
We do not thank God for evil, injustice, sickness or sin. Neither does gratitude require us to pretend that pain and problems do not exist.
Instead, even in difficult circumstances, we can still thank God for His presence, His promises and His power that sustains us.
Gratitude is not the denial of our problems.
It is a decision to remember the goodness of God in the middle of them.
Who Should We Be Grateful To?
Our gratitude begins with God.
We thank Him as our Creator, Redeemer, Saviour, Provider, Protector and Sustainer. We remember who He is and what He has done.
We are also grateful for the Holy Spirit, who comforts, teaches, convicts, strengthens and empowers us to live the Christian life.
But gratitude should also extend towards the people God has placed around us.
Our parents.
Our spouse and children.
Our relatives and friends.
Our teachers and colleagues.
Our employers and employees.
Our pastors and fellow believers.
Pastor Glen also reminds the church to appreciate those who serve quietly behind the scenes — the volunteers and “unsung heroes” whose faithful service often goes unnoticed.
A grateful heart notices what others do and learns to express appreciation instead of taking people for granted.
Why Gratitude Matters
Gratitude matters because God commands us to give thanks.
Psalm 103:2 tells us not to forget His benefits. We should never enjoy the blessings of God while forgetting the One who gave them.
Gratitude also changes our focus.
Philippians 4:6–7 tells us not to be anxious, but in every situation to bring our requests to God with thanksgiving.
When we focus entirely on our problems, those problems can become bigger and bigger in our minds.
But gratitude reminds us that God is greater than what we are facing.
Gratitude also protects us from entitlement.
An entitled heart says:
“I deserve more.”
A grateful heart says:
“Lord, thank You for what You have entrusted to me. Help me use it for Your glory.”
Everything we possess ultimately belongs to God. We are stewards, not owners. Our responsibility is to faithfully use what He has placed in our hands.
Grateful in Every Season
When should we be thankful?
In good times and difficult times.
Habakkuk faced a situation where crops failed, fields produced no food and livestock disappeared. Yet he declared that he would still rejoice in the Lord.
Pastor Glen reminds us that gratitude is also important while waiting for God to answer prayer.
Perhaps we are praying for a loved one to know Christ.
Perhaps we are waiting for a job, a relationship, healing or a breakthrough.
Waiting can be difficult, but we should not stop praying.
Pastor Glen shares his own testimony of praying for his father for many years, even after his father strongly opposed his decision to enter full-time ministry. Five days before his father passed away at the age of 75, he accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
The answer did not come quickly, but Pastor Glen continued praying.
While we wait, we can continue thanking God for His presence, His grace and His promises.
How Do We Develop a Heart of Gratitude?
Pastor Glen gives several practical ways to cultivate gratitude.
First, yield to the Holy Spirit.
There will be seasons when thanking God feels difficult. We need the Holy Spirit to give us the grace and strength to continue worshipping God even through storms and wilderness seasons.
Second, intentionally remember God’s goodness.
Pastor Glen shares his personal practice of keeping notebooks where he records blessings he has received. These records become reminders during difficult seasons that the God who was faithful before is still faithful today.
Sometimes we forget how much God has done because we never stop to remember.
Third, turn complaints into prayer.
Instead of continually asking, “God, why is my life so difficult?” we can pray:
“Lord, this is difficult for me. Please give me wisdom, patience and strength. Thank You that I can cast my cares upon You because You care for me.”
Prayer redirects our hearts from frustration towards dependence on God.
Fourth, practise thanksgiving every day.
Gratitude should not be something we practise only on Sunday.
Begin the day by thanking God for another day of life and asking how He wants to use you.
End the day by remembering His presence, provision and work throughout the day.
Over time, thanksgiving becomes a lifestyle rather than an occasional response.
Fifth, learn to be content in different circumstances.
A heart that constantly compares and desires more will always find something to complain about. Contentment teaches us to recognise what God has already placed in our hands.
Finally, turn gratitude into generosity.
From Gratitude to Generosity
A grateful heart does not only say:
“Thank You, Lord, for blessing me.”
It also asks:
“Lord, how can I become a blessing to someone else?”
God has entrusted us with our time, abilities and resources so that we can use them for His purposes.
We can give our time.
We can encourage someone who is lonely.
We can help someone in need.
We can share our resources.
We can serve faithfully.
Gratitude received from God should overflow into love for others.
The Power of a Thankful Heart
Pastor Glen closes with three biblical examples.
Habakkuk chose to rejoice even when everything around him appeared to be failing.
In Luke 17, ten lepers were healed by Jesus, but only one returned to thank Him. Pastor Glen challenges us to be like that one person who remembers to return and say, “Thank You.”
Then in Acts 16, Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, beaten and imprisoned.
Yet at midnight, they prayed and sang praises to God.
Their circumstances gave them plenty of reasons to complain, but they chose worship instead.
God opened the prison doors, and what began as suffering eventually became an opportunity for the jailer and his household to hear the Gospel and be saved.
Their gratitude did not remain personal. God used it to touch the lives of others.
Choose Gratitude
Pastor Glen closes with a call for us to become people whose hearts are full of gratitude rather than murmuring and complaining.
Complaining, when allowed to take root, can eventually produce bitterness.
Instead, bring the frustrations, disappointments and burdens of life to Jesus.
Ask the Holy Spirit to replace complaining with joy and thanksgiving.
Remember what God has done.
Thank Him for what He has entrusted to you.
And then ask how you can use those blessings for someone else.
The heart of gratitude is not formed only when everything is going well.
It is formed when, in every circumstance, we can still say:
“Thank You, Lord. You are still with me. You are still faithful. And everything You have entrusted to me, I want to use for Your glory.”
