In a time of personal tribulation, the Old Testament prophet Elijah prayed, seeking the Lord. As a result of his pleadings, the following sequence of events unfolded. “And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:11-12) Countless pastors and spiritual leaders have employed these verses as an example of how the Lord often speaks to us. That is, answers to prayers rarely manifest themselves in the form of some monumental event such as an earthquake or fire. Instead, answers come in the form of “a still small voice.” In addition to this apropos application, this passage might also provide insight on how we should approach gratitude.
The scriptures are replete with invitations—and even commandments—for us to give thanks for all God has done for us. In Psalms, we are instructed to “[e]nter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4) In the New Testament, Paul invites the Colossians to “be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) As to the duration of our giving thanks, the scriptures teach us to “[c]ease not to give thanks.” (Ephesians 1:16) Even the Savior Himself set the example of gratitude, when He “took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks.” (Matthew 15:36)
Curiously absent from the countless scriptures concerning gratitude and thanksgiving is any requirement that the blessing be grandiose or easily recognizable. Rather than thank God and recognize only those blessings that come “in the wind,” “in the earthquake,” or “in the fire,” we would do well to instead give constant thanks to God for the daily blessings He provides in the form of a proverbial “still small voice.” The Lord taught Elijah to not overlook ostensibly modest heavenly communications. This is a straightforward interpretation of that scripture, but certainly, 1 Kings 19:12 can also teach us to constantly acknowledge the seemingly simple blessings we enjoy each day. In the Book of Mormon, missionaries by the names of Alma and Amulek found themselves preaching to “the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel.” (Alma 32:2) At first glance, this was a group of people who clearly didn’t have much for which to be thankful. The scriptures recount that this group was “esteemed as filthiness” by their neighbors, and “despised of all men because of their poverty.” (Alma 32:3, 5) After Alma instructs this group concerning faith and other
Christ-centered topics, Amulek exhorts the listeners to “work out [their] salvation with fear before God,” and “no more deny the coming of Christ.” (Alma 34:37) Amulek then continues, employing a powerful phrase regarding gratitude. Speaking to this group of impoverished pupils, whose cornucopia of life was likely barren as to items for which they might give thanks, Amulek commands them to “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which [God] doth bestow upon you.” (Alma 34:38)
Nearly 1800 years after Amulek’s directive for the poor and downtrodden to “live in thanksgiving daily,” the citizens of the United States likewise found themselves in a position where gratitude could prove difficult: the United States was in the throes of a bloody and devastating civil war. On October 3, 1863, the Civil War had been raging for over two years, and yet, Lincoln elected to issue the following Thanksgiving Proclamation:
“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and even soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of the Almighty God. . . .
“No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
Lincoln took Amulek’s instruction to “live in thanksgiving daily” to heart. And we have him to thank for the holiday which we are blessed to celebrate today. In the midst of a harrowing experience such as the Civil War, Lincoln could have easily determined that there were no blessings worthy of gratitude. Instead, the Thanksgiving Proclamation is an excellent example of seeking after those blessings which manifest themselves as a “still small voice”—little things like “fruitful fields and healthful skies”—rather than an easily recognizable blessing made apparent in an allegorical “wind,” “earthquake” or “fire.”
Gordon B. Hinckley, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 to 2008, recounted the following: “I enjoy these words of Jenkins Lloyd Jones which I clipped from a column in the Deseret News some years ago. I pass them on to you. … Said he:
‘Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.
‘Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …
‘Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
‘The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.’ (Deseret News, 12 June 1973.)” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley)
Truly, life is so much more enjoyable as we strive to recognize the quiet blessings which God directs our way daily, rather than expend our energy on noting the numerous difficulties that surround us. We should make it a priority to “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which [God] doth bestow upon [us].” If we do, we will be able to better recognize—as Elijah of old—God’s constant presence and support.