7 Amazing Ways Wonder Boosts Our Gratefulness

What is wonder? Wonder comes from astonishment, admiration, or marveling — to have and express excited and amazed astonishment at something awesomely mysterious. Wonder also appreciates beauty, magnificence, and splendor. 

The Bible urges us to be in awe of God, our wonder-full Creator and ruler of the universe. We need to take time to marvel at who He is and what He has done. 

In 2013, while thinking and praying about the word I would focus on in 2014, the word “wonder” kept coming to mind. Over the first ten months of 2014, I explored wonder relative to different aspects of God and to my Christian life. Then I spent a month praising God for all I’d discovered and another month encouraging others to see and experience wonder in God. It was an eye-opening, life-altering experience. Pursuing wonder changed my spiritual core and helped me become a more grateful follower of Christ. 

Consider some of the ways we can use wonder to boost our gratefulness.

2. Bask in the Wonder of God’s Grace

We tend to list all the blessings in our lives at Thanksgiving, but God wants us to be captivated by Him — the wonder of the Blesser Himself. It’s truly a marvel that God created us to have a relationship with Him.

We only scratch the surface of God’s mysterious ways in dealing with His creatures. We cannot fathom the depths of who He is, and pondering who He is can make us feel infinitesimal.

The blood-bought believer forever basks in the wonder of God’s grace. The first couple damaged their relationship with the awe-inspiring God when they listened to Satan, the wicked serpent, and made a sinful choice. Though they were then alienated from God, He still reached out to them, promising a Rescuer. In the fullness of time, the Father sent His Son to save us — the marvelous gift of God. The Father’s grace toward us was, and still is, truly wondrous.

While it’s wondrous that God’s grace overflows in our lives, how grateful are we for that grace? How can we not express profuse, even extravagant, gratitude? The world may be in chaos and our lives in turmoil, but we can always choose to see God’s good and gracious provision. As we gaze upon Him with wonder, it’s logical to thank Him for His love and mercy that extended such great grace.

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Gratitude is not simply an option for believers. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Let that message sink in. Gratitude is God’s will for every Christian.  

Sometimes, discovering or knowing God's will can feel hard or even scary. But we can know this with certainty: gratitude is always God's will for His children, and obeying Him in expressing thanks is a choice. 

Wonder — especially regarding our awe of God — aids us in expressing gratitude. Life can get tough and leave us frustrated or even in despair, but no matter our circumstances, we can always find something to be grateful for when we focus on our wonderful Father and seek to view life through His eyes. 

What might we be thankful for? We can express gratitude that our majestic God rules from heaven (Psalm 103:19). We can give thanks for the work of Christ on our behalf, and be grateful and glad that Jesus did not leave us without a helper, teacher, and comforter (John 14:26). We can express gratitude for our transformed lives, that God equips each of us for ministry, and for all the marvelous works done in Jesus’ name.

4. Sense the Psalmist’s Wonder

One of the best places to increase our wonder is to study the Word of God. It is there that we read about God’s awesome works in the Old Testament, and Jesus’ miracles in the New Testament.

Especially as we linger in the book of Psalms, we “see” the Lord God as the awesome ruler over all. He is “clothed with splendor and majesty” (Psalm 104:1), and worthy of our praise and worship (Psalm 95:1-6). David said, in Psalm 145:1, “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.” The psalmist also invited people to express their gratitude to God: "Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 106:1).

In Psalm 29:1-2, David uses the word “ascribe” three times. To ascribe something is to regard it as a quality belonging to someone. David likely spoke from wonder as he said we are to ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name. The glory of the Lord is great and His works are wonderful (Psalm 138:5; 145:5). The heavens, in all awesome mystery and beauty, proclaim God’s glory (Psalm 19:1).

John tells us that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact imprint of the Father’s holy, mighty nature (John 1:14). We are transformed and reflect God’s glory as we behold Jesus and choose to conduct the whole of our lives to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

Psalm 139 reminds us of God’s magnificence, recognizing God’s wonderful works. In verse 14, David said, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” David recognized the intricacies of his own body as one of God’s wonderful works. Perhaps the best place to begin expanding our gratitude is by acknowledging that God made us with unique characteristics as an expression of His wonderful, creative will.

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Exploring creation helps us know more about our wonderful Creator. Proverbs 16:4 says, “The LORD has made all for Himself.” He made all things for His pleasure and by His will. He created all things for His purposes and His glory.

Nature is a reflection of God’s glory. Though marred since the fall, it will be restored in the Millennium when humanity will see the wonders of peaceful, holy, and redeemed Eden. Though creation is sometimes chaotic as a result of sin, there are still traces of God’s glory everywhere. He designed countless creatures and plants for us to enjoy. He created some oddities in nature too — like the platypus, tarsier, kiwi, and Venus flytrap — causing us to laugh and perhaps wonder why God made them! He filled the earth with minerals and gemstones. He provides life-sustaining water and causes cultivated fields to grow.

Boost your gratefulness by cultivating wonder in nature through your five senses. With fresh enthusiasm, enjoy watching a squirrel or bird outside your window, the sound of the ocean or leaves rustling in the wind, the feel of soft fur on a puppy or kitten, the smell of your favorite flower, and the taste of fruits and vegetables. Open your senses to the wonderful treasures God has for you in creation. Savor them.

We become accustomed to so many of God’s precious gifts. Cultivating wonder in nature will not only help us appreciate them more but also admire Father God who gives us countless good things to enjoy.

6. Ponder the Wonder in Adversity

Great spiritual blessings occasionally come wrapped in packages with black bows of trial or pain. Even when struggling in a tough circumstance, the Lord can show us wonders — unexpected beauty — in our difficulties. He aims to bless us even in the thick of our struggle (Romans 8:28). Sometimes gratefulness is forged in the furnace of adversity.

Lisa Beamer, wife of Todd Beamer who died in the United Airlines Flight 93 crash on September 9, 2011, faced this tough circumstance with courage because she had already struggled with deep, private grief in childhood when her dad died prematurely. She wrote, in Let’s Roll!: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage, "Slowly I began to understand that the plans God has for us don't just include "good" things, but the whole array of human events. . . . Somewhere along the way, I stopped demanding that God fix the problems in my life and started to be thankful for His presence as I endured them."

Lisa understood that when we enjoy the wonder of God’s presence, we can face anything. Faith in our ever-present God can carry us through great difficulties and sorrows. Believers, in adversity, may feel they cannot face another day, but they can take comfort and find courage in knowing God will not leave them, they are in Christ, and the Holy Spirit indwells them (Hebrews 13:5b; John 14:17). Jesus is “God with us” as our Savior and Advocate, helping us and giving us hope.

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Even more fascinating than being aware of God’s awesomeness is the truth that acknowledging and expressing the wonders and blessings from Him will enhance our ability to notice even more wonders and blessings. Sharing the wonder doubles our joy!

We can always be ready to share — with happy enthusiasm — about God and what He has done for us. In Daniel 4:2-3, Daniel said to King Nebuchadnezzar: "It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders!"

Can you hear the praise and gratitude in those verses? Daniel said it was His pleasure to share this with the king. He was happy to talk about the God of Wonders.

I've noticed that when I verbally express gratitude to God for His many wondrous acts — especially in my pain or struggles — my thankful attitude spreads like a sweet aroma, drawing others in with questions or encouraging them to share their own gratitude. Expressing gratitude for the wonders of God is the fragrance emanating from a grateful heart. Make no mistake; others notice such gratitude!

The wonder-filled process is this: Observe and soak in the wonders of God, the wonder of the Word of God, and God’s wondrous works, and then share those wonders with others. Wonder not only boosts our gratefulness, it is catching. So spread the wonder!

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