“What can we be thankful for other than stuff? Because, this time of year, everyone is thankful for their things. As believers, don’t we have something to be thankful for other than our belongings?”
We ought to praise him because he is loving, merciful, and gracious. Even his discipline is an act of his love toward us because we are his children (Hebrews 12). God’s character and all of his attributes are worthy of our worship and praise.
The truth is, it’s easy to give thanks for the material things we have. It’s easy to give thanks for fun experiences, vacations, gifts, and when life goes the way we want. But we can struggle to give thanks when life is mundane and boring. Or when life is hard. Or when we think we deserve better than we’re given.
He is the creator and sustainer of all things. nd when we don’t give thanks, when we hold it back because life is hard, we are in a sense robbing God of the thanks and praise that he is due.
In fact, giving thanks is what we were made for.
The beautiful thing about doing what we were made for is that it brings us great joy. It completes us, fulfills us, and satisfies us. Knowing God and responding to his wonder and beauty with thanksgiving and praise is the very thing and only thing that fills all the empty places of the heart." [here]