Gratitude Leads to Confidence, Optimism

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul reminds us, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The key words, of course, are “in everything” — and we cannot and should not neglect those words.

This Thanksgiving, I am certain that many of us are thankful for the outcome of the election — but let’s not overlook the fact that it’s not the results of the election that we should be thankful for, but that we again have confirmation of God’s sovereignty and his hand of blessing upon America.

“In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

We must be careful not to only give thanks one day a year for this, then quickly forget the gracious gift and recognition of the power of God. He has given His people the power to direct the course of history, as well as our potential to change the course of history for the good of mankind and His people.

I am an economist who works in analytics all day long. So I’m not a theologian by any stretch, but I am a man who loves and believes in the truth that we find in God’s word. I consider myself a behavioral economist who studies and looks at the behavior of corporations around the world and here in America, as well as the behavior of consumers who drive our markets.

Related: The Lost Art of ‘Thank You’

It is understanding these behaviors that I pray will give me insight as to what to expect in our economy. And the behavior I hope to see this Thanksgiving is one of enormous gratitude — a gratitude that has led to confident expectations, optimism, and relief.

I’ve said this for more than 30 years, and it is still true this Thanksgiving: The one thing that is constant and always leads to economic growth is consumer confidence, business confidence, and certainty. If you’re wondering what is driving the markets today, it is nothing more than the expectation that we have leadership that will move our country into the future in a very positive way — creating growth and opportunity, and rebuilding America’s middle class.

What we are seeing now is a stark contrast to the fear and uncertainty of what might happen next and an uncertainty about our leaders’ ability to actually lead. That fear is gone — or at least waning. Replacing that uncertainty is the comfort that we will still have a job a year from now, the knowledge that our earnings will grow, as well as the overall economy, and the reassurance that strong leadership has once again come to America — leadership that will not be controlled by radical ideology or a fear of American exceptionalism.

Related: Avoid a Divided Thanksgiving — Thank God Instead

We, for the first time in a long time, feel that we can leave the next generation in a better condition than where we are today. The American psyche, both from a consumer perspective and a corporate perspective, is a powerful thing.

As we work to be good stewards of all that God has provided us in this American economy, let us not forget this Thanksgiving that in everything we must give thanks to a God Almighty who desires to see America prosper on the foundation of its Judeo-Christian roots.

Dan Celia is president and CEO of Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries Inc., and host of the nationally syndicated radio and television program “Financial Issues,” heard daily on more than 600 stations across the country and reaching millions of households on the National Religious Broadcasters Network, BizTV, and Dove-TV.