World Blog by humble servant. Do we thank God enough? If you count GOD’s blessings, you cannot possibly encompass them.

World Blog by humble servant. Do we thank God enough? If you count GOD’s blessings, you cannot possibly encompass them.

By The humble servant. January 09, 2022

Do we thank God enough?

If you count GOD’s blessings, you cannot possibly encompass them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful. (16:18)

God has given us many things in life that we should be thankful for. Therefore, we should be counting our blessings. But we don’t often reflect on what we have. Instead we dwell on what we lack. We cannot have enough of anything, and always want more. We never get tired of asking for more. It is our human nature.

[41:49] The human being never tires of imploring for good things. And when adversity befalls him, he turns despondent, desperate.

[14:34] And He gives you all kinds of things that you implore Him for. If you count GOD’s blessings, you can never encompass them. Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative.

There is nothing wrong with asking God for good things, as long as we are appreciative of them when He gives us what we want, and submit to His will if He chooses not to give. Perhaps He will give them to us later. God knows what is best for us. Also we might be asking for something that may not be good for us (2:216).

Never forget to thank God

Often we realize and appreciate what we have after we lose it temporarily or after seeing someone who does not have it. For example, it is unfortunate that we don’t thank God enough for our health until we get sick. Then we constantly implore God to heal us. As soon as we feel better, we tend to forget God and may turn unappreciative again (16:53-54). It hardly ever occurs to us that our eyes, hands, feet, and everything we have, are blessings from God until we have problems. This reminds me of a story I heard some time ago.

A man reached 75 years of age and started having problems with his stomach. He could not eat. He went to the hospital and he was diagnosed with a disease in his stomach. The doctors informed him that he was in need of an operation to cure this disease. He agreed to have the operation done as the pain was unbearable. When the operation was completed, his doctor gave him the bill which covered all the costs. The old man looked at the bill and started to cry. Upon seeing this, the doctor told him that if the cost was too high then they could make some other arrangements. The old man said “I am not crying because of the money but I am crying because God let me eat without any problems for 75 years and He never sent me a bill.”

All praise is due to God

Being thankful and appreciative is for our own good. If we choose to ignore the blessings God has given us, and do not recognize God’s hand in our lives, we are the ones who lose. God is in no need, Praiseworthy.

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: “the more you thank me, the more I give you.” But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

[31:12] We have endowed Luqmaan with wisdom: “You shall be appreciative of GOD.” Whoever is appreciative is appreciative for his own good. As for those who turn unappreciative, GOD is in no need, Praiseworthy.

[35:15] O people, you are the ones who need GOD, while GOD is in no need for anyone, the Most Praiseworthy.

Being appreciative is a process and includes understanding that everything comes from God, and that God controls everything. We have to love God and value Him more than anything else.

[2:165] Yet, some people set up idols to rival GOD, and love them as if they are GOD. Those who believe love GOD the most. If only the transgressors could see themselves when they see the retribution! They will realize then that all power belongs to GOD alone, and that GOD’s retribution is awesome.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38). (See also Deut. 6:4-5)

The word “love” means “to appreciate” or “to value.” But most people fail to value God because they do not understand who God is, and what His qualities or attributes are.

[22:74] They do not value GOD as He should be valued. GOD is the Most Powerful, the Almighty.

God is not an old man in the sky. God is not just a Creator helplessly watching His creation going out of control. God is not too busy for the needs of His creatures because He has to worry about the big stuff. God is not too far to hear us or see us. God does not err. God does not get tired or need rest. God is not limited to time and space. God is not unaware of what is happening in our lives or in the universe, not even for a moment. Unfortunately some people diminish God attributing human characteristics to Him.

If we want to truly appreciate God, we need to fully recognize God’s attributes, and get to really know Him. God’s greatness and power are beyond our comprehension, but He describes His attributes in the Quran in detail so that we have no question about who God is and what He is capable of.