In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of gratitude, especially when it comes to our work lives. Work can be an opportunity of tremendous purpose and growth for us individually. However, it can also be filled with frustration, stress, sabotage, and a lack of appreciation. When we don’t feel valued, our natural response can be to throw in the towel, look elsewhere, or give into insecurity as we feel that our worth is slipping away. For the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on how Daniel 6 gives us a powerful example of how to reorient ourselves and approach to our vocational lives in the workplace. In this blog post, I will explore the practice of gratitude in the workplace.
Gratitude can become a stabilizing force that keeps us anchored in God’s purposes, gratitude in your workplace can even be a stabilizing force in the face of the challenges in our workplaces. This Lead a Quiet Life blog on Patheos has often reflected on my journey to live a quiet life, minding my own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11). I am realizing how much gratitude grounds me – or is a stabilizing force – in what it means to live quietly and by minding my own business, including in the workplace.
The Foundations and Toils of Work
Work is fundamental to our existence, woven into our purpose since creation. In Genesis, God created humanity to steward creation with our hands, minds, and abilities. I believe work was never meant to be just a task but that it was always intended to be an act of carrying out God’s mission in the world, but also an act of worship, a way to honor God through cultivation. Beyond this, work provides us with social connections, financial support, and a sense of purpose, contributing significantly to our well-being.
In the Ten Commandments, God underscores the importance of work by dedicating six days to labor (Deuteronomy 5:13-15). But the seventh day is one of rest—a Sabbath where we pause, refocus, and dwell with God. This rhythm was intended to set limits and boundaries on our work and to remind us that rest is essential for us, for our identities, our environment, and all who labor under us. I believe the Sabbath is also an act of gratitude. It is sitting a time sitting in God’s presence and realizing all he has gifted us.
The Apostle Paul also highlights the value of meaningful work. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, he encourages believers to “make it our ambition to lead a quiet life, mind our own business, and work with our hands.” Work done in this spirit becomes an act of worship—a way to contribute meaningfully without being “busybodies” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). When we work well, Psalm 128:1-2 assures us that God will bless our efforts. And in Colossians 3:23-24, Paul reminds us to “work with all our hearts as if for the Lord.” Our labor is more than a paycheck; it’s an act of devotion. However, work is not easy. It is work. It is toil. It can and does get the best of us
However, work is not always easy. It can be toil, and it can get the best of us. When we face unemployment or feel underutilized in our roles, it can be unsettling and even defeating, as if it may feel as if we have lost worth in our identity. During the era of the Great Recession, I personally struggled with the identity loss that can come with being without work.
When work loses its meaning or we’re simply overwhelmed by its demands, it’s challenging to approach it as “unto the Lord.” Life’s pressures—financial, family, health—often add to our exhaustion. We work for the weekend, for the paycheck, for the life we want to live, or just to get through it when it looses it’s contentment for us. Sometimes, the people we work with are difficult, and work becomes draining. On those days, it can take all we have to get there on time, let alone feel motivated or joyful.
The fast-paced work culture we live in often pushes us to the brink, where productivity and “always-on” demands make it hard to disconnect. Many find it hard to connect their work to a greater purpose, feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind. Monday may start with a little energy, but by Tuesday, we’re counting down to Friday. Work relationships often present the greatest challenges. Humanity’s brokenness has tainted not only our environment but also our workplaces.
Ecclesiastes laments the “meaningless” toil that leaves our hearts restless, even speaking of jobs haunting our sleep and leading to an inability to rest or escape stress. That is why I think discovering gratitude is important. Gratitude can become a stabilizing force that keeps us anchored in God’s purposes, even in the face of challenges in our workplaces.
Daniel’s Example: Gratitude in Adversity
Daniel’s story in Daniel 6 provides a powerful example of maintaining gratitude and faith in a hostile work environment. In this story, Daniel is at work. Despite working in an oppressive setting, Daniel’s character remained full of integrity and gratitude.
Daniel’s role within the Persian Empire highlights the administrative structure of satrapies, where officials governed local regions to maintain control over the vast empire. In Daniel 6, where we find more satrapies than we have record of in the Persian Empire, so scholars suggest that these satraps were probably lower-ranking governors. Daniel’s integrity, discernment, and dedication made him an excellent candidate for a senior role, as his character and “excellent spirit” was clear to others (Daniel 6:3) as most verses say, but the NIV missteps from. Daniel’s God-given wisdom and integrity were evident, even to those who disliked him. Integrity and God-given wisdom are both important things to be known for in our work lives.
Despite facing this new wave of severe opposition and betrayal, Daniel remained steadfast in his commitment to God, refusing to let the pressures around him define his identity or purpose. Even under the threat of death, Daniel stood in sharp contrast to those who plotted against him. The threat of punishment by lions—animals kept in cistern-like pits and used for hunting, would be terrifying. However, when he learned of the decree, Daniel likely felt the sting of betrayal but still trusted in God’s strength and was given into the practice of gratitude rather than fear. Daniel’s response is remarkable: “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). Daniel practiced gratitude in an oppressive workplace.
Daniel’s practice of gratitude wasn’t just a private act of inventorying all he had to be thankful for; it was a public declaration of gratitude on display in a prophetic way (where the windows opened). Even in the face of life-threatening circumstances, Daniel continued his discipline of thanksgiving. This practice of gratitude became his anchor, keeping him rooted in God’s purposes despite the challenges he faced. I believe Daniel models how gratitude can become a stabilizing force that keeps us anchored in God’s purposes, but especially he models the important practice of gratitude in your workplace.
Practical Steps for Practicing Gratitude at Work
I think these three practical steps show us how gratitude can become a stabilizing force that keeps us anchored in God’s purposes, and how gratitude in the workplace can even be a stabilizing force in the face of the challenges in our workplaces.
- Make a Daily Gratitude List: Begin or end each day by listing three things you’re grateful for at work. This simple practice can shift your perspective and help you focus on the positive aspects of your job.
- Pray Gratefully for Colleagues and Leaders: Commit to praying for your workplace, colleagues, and leaders. Ask God to work in their lives, and pray for wisdom and patience for yourself. This practice shifts our focus from frustration to compassion and gratitude for those you work with.
- Practice Gratitude Publicly: Be known as the person thanking God openly, like Daniel. As others may be gossiping or complaining, become known for integrity, empowerment, and gratitude. This can have a transformative effect on work cultures. I believe when practiced authentically, an attitude of gratitude is as contagious as a bad attitude is.
Finding Peace and Purpose in Gratitude
As we grow in gratitude, we begin to see our work through a different lens. Instead of focusing solely on challenges and frustrations, we start recognizing God’s presence and purpose in our daily tasks. Gratitude grounds us, helping us stay connected to our calling and find meaning even in the mundane.
Christine D. Pohl writes, “Our capacity for gratitude is not connected with an abundance of resources but rather with a capacity to notice what it is that we do have.” This insight reminds us that gratitude is less about our circumstances and more about our perspective.
Henry Nouwen suggests, “We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a unique opportunity to make everything new.” Gratitude can help us approach each moment with this fresh perspective, seeing opportunities for growth and purpose even in challenging situations.
Last Thoughts
Though work can be imperfect and challenging, it can still be a place of worship and thanksgiving when we approach it with a heart rooted in gratitude. By following Daniel’s example and cultivating a practice of gratitude, we can find peace, purpose, and resilience in our work lives. However, I also think it can and will overflow from our lives into the vocational contexts we are invested. Let’s commit to building this wall of gratitude in our workplaces, transforming not only our own experiences but potentially our entire work environments.
As we journey through this series on gratitude, may we be inspired to see our work – whatever form it takes – as an opportunity to honor God, serve others, and grow in faith. Let’s choose gratitude, even in the face of adversity, knowing that it has the power to anchor us in God’s purposes and transform our perspective on work and life.
You can listen to more reflections on this Daniel 6 passage from a recent sermon I explored at River Corner Church.
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