The Joyful Byproduct of Thankfulness

Jane Isley
Sep 18
2 min read

Two people in red "thankful" shirts smile and laugh. Background features white shutters. One wears a red bandana and denim shorts. Mood is joyful. — unsplash.com

Here’s the third and last of those three sayings I live by. Here’s all three together, and you’ll see why they are written on my office walls.

Music Is My Melody.

Joy Supersedes All Situations.

Choose to be Thankful, and the Byproduct is Joy.

I think all believers out there have a saying or two they always remember, something that sticks with them through the mud and grime the world tries to bury us under, and I believe it's important that we have something like this to hold onto.

Whether it's a favorite verse(s) or, like in my case, sayings that keep me focused and remind me God is always there. These three sayings are unique to me and my needs; each of us will have our own unique sayings that speak to us no matter what.

Byproducts

The literal definition of byproduct is: “something that is produced as a result of making something else, or something unexpected that happens as a result of something:”(1)

We create byproducts with our emotions and our choices all the time, without realizing it, both positive and negative.

When we shift our thinking and look around at our surroundings, and start to acknowledge what God has provided us, we change from ungrateful to grateful. We have the power to create a positive or negative byproduct with our conduct.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” Phil 4:8

And the byproduct is Joy

Here we are being directly told to think about such things. When we take moments throughout the day, even on our roughest days, and say to God, “Thank you,” that is a positive byproduct of our deliberate choice to see the good, and it is worthy of our gratitude.

Too many people are focused on what they don’t have, what they want, what think think they deserve. They think about these things so much that the byproduct coming out of them is always negative; there is no joy.

How is God to work with that?

How is that glorifying God and strengthening you?

Instead, switch your thinking to what is noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Make a choice to be thankful, and the byproduct will be Joy.