Volume 26, Issue 9
Page 16
WisconsinChristianNews.com
Thanking God For Answered Prayer
By Emily Myers February 2026
And yet only one returned. Scripture tells us that when this man saw that he was healed, he turned back. With a loud voice he glorified God. He fell at Jesus’ feet and gave Him thanks. Jesus’ response is both gentle and convicting: “Were there not ten
of happiness — it is an act of wor- ship. The psalmist writes, “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiv- ing, and tell of all thy wondrous
we remember they are still gifts of grace. And even when gratitude feels unnecessary, may we choose it inten- tionally. Let us be people who not only pray earnestly, but who also return faithfully — to thank, to glorify, and to acknowl- edge the goodness of God in blessings received. Emily Myers and her husband, Daniel , live on a small farm in Missouri where they homeschool their seven chil- dren. Emily is a Certified Professional Midwife. Together, Emily and Daniel co- authored “Expressions of Thanksgiv- ing,” a family devotional designed to cultivate hearts of gratitude through Scripture, song, and reflection. Daniel also illustrated the book with his original artwork.
Giving thanks in difficult seasons often feels like a spiritual discipline — something we must choose intention- ally when circumstances are heavy and answers seem far away. In times of hardship, we remind ourselves to trust God, to praise Him in the waiting, and to believe that He is still good even when life feels uncertain. Much has been written and taught about thankful- ness in suffering, and rightly so, for it is often there that gratitude is most costly. But giving thanks when prayers are answered — when blessings are clearly received — can be more easily neglected than we might expect. At first glance, gratitude for good things seems obvious. After all, we prayed earnestly. We pleaded, waited, hoped, and trusted. Surely when the answer arrives, thanksgiving should flow naturally. And yet, how often do we move quickly from prayer to provision without ever circling back to gratitude? How easily we rejoice in the gift while quietly forgetting the Giver. Jesus speaks directly to this tendency in the account of the ten lepers found in Luke 17. Ten men suffering from leprosy — a condition that brought not only physical pain but also deep isolation and rejec- tion — stood at a distance and cried out to Jesus for mercy. All ten recognized their need. All ten believed enough to call upon Him. And all ten obeyed when Jesus instructed them to go show themselves to the priest, as the law re- quired, so they could be declared clean. As they went, they were healed. Ten men received the blessing. Ten experienced restoration. Ten were freed from lives marked by suffering, exclusion, and hopelessness. Their healing was complete and undeniable.
works.” Thanksgiv- ing is meant to be voiced. It is some- thing we declare, remember, and share, not only for our own hearts, but as a testimony to others of God’s faithfulness. May we learn from the one who re- turned. Even when others rush ahead, may we pause. Even when blessings feel long-awaited or well-deserved, may
answered prayer as an expectation rather than a gift. Our hearts quietly shift from wonder to entitlement without our even realizing it. Scripture warns us of this tendency. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses cautions the people of Israel not to forget the Lord when they have eaten and are full, when their homes are established, and their needs are met. He writes, “Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God.” Pros- perity, comfort, and answered prayers carry their own spiritual dan- gers. The thankful leper shows us a bet- ter way. He noticed what God had done. He did not rush past the moment. He turned back. He lifted his voice. He humbled himself in gratitude. His thanksgiving was intentional and vis- ible. He recognized that healing was not merely a change in circum- stances, but a mercy that deserved acknowledgment. True gratitude requires attention. It asks us to see blessings clearly and to trace them back to their source. It invites us to slow down long enough to say, “Lord, this came from You.” Thanksgiving is not simply a feeling
cleansed? But where are the nine?” The absence of the other nine speaks volumes. They received the same mir- acle. They benefited from the same mercy. Yet their hearts did not lead them back to the One who healed them. Whether distracted by excite- ment, eager to return to their families, or consumed with the possibilities now open before them, they failed to pause in gratitude. It is easy to read this account and as- sume we would have been the one who returned. Surely we would not forget to thank God for such a gift. But honest reflection may reveal that we often resemble the nine more than the one. We pray fervently for healing, provi- sion, clarity, or deliverance. We cry out in moments of need and depend fully on God’s mercy. When He answers, we step into the blessing — and then move on. Life fills quickly with new responsi- bilities, new distractions, and new prayers. Gratitude becomes assumed rather than expressed. Thanksgiving becomes silent rather than spoken. This forgetfulness does not always come from rebellion or disbelief. Often, it comes from familiarity. We grow ac- customed to grace. We begin to see
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5