"How's your marriage?"

You answer: "It's okay, we're managing."

Lie.

Your marriage is good.Really good.You love your spouse. You communicate. You pray together. You still desire each other.

But you don't dare say it.

Because saying "my marriage is blessed" seems arrogant. Insensitive.Like you're bragging while others suffer.

So you minimize God's blessings in your life.

And God hates that.

Why You Hide Your Blessings

False Humility

You believe being humble = minimizing what God does.

"My marriage? Oh, we have our problems like everyone."(Even if these "problems" are minor.)

"My children? They're difficult sometimes."(Even if they obey you and love God.)

"My life? Nothing special."(Even if God fills you daily.)

You call it humility.God calls it disguised ingratitude.

Philippians 4:4- "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

God commands joy.Not false modesty.

Fear of Hurting Others

Your sister is divorcing. Your friend has been job hunting for months. Your coworker cries every night because her children are rebellious.

And you have solid marriage, good job, children who walk with God.

So you stay silent.To not "hurt" those who suffer.

That's false.

Hiding God's blessings helps no one.It steals glory that belongs to Him.

Psalm 107:1-2- "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so."

LET THE REDEEMED SAY SO.

Not saying it is disobedience.It's spiritual cowardice.

Fear of Being Judged

If you say "my marriage is blessed", people will think:

• "She's bragging."
• "She's naive, it won't last."
• "She's probably lying."
• "She ignores real problems."

So you prefer silence.Minimize. Neutralize.

Matthew 5:16- "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

When you hide what God does,no one glorifies God.

Survivor's Guilt

You see Christian couples divorce. Families explode. Pastors' children reject faith.

And you, everything's fine.

You feel guilty."Why me? I don't deserve this blessing more than them."

True, you don't deserve it.That's grace.

Lamentations 3:22-23- "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

God is faithful.He blessed you. It's not your fault. It's His grace.

What God Says About Thanksgiving

It's a Command, Not Option

1 Thessalonians 5:18- "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

IN EVERYTHING.Including when you're blessed.

Giving thanks when you suffer = faith. Giving thanks when you're blessed =obedience.

It's Weapon Against Ingratitude

Romans 1:21- "Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

Ingratitude is beginning of spiritual wandering.First step toward idolatry.

When you stop thanking God for what He does,you start believing you deserved it.

It's Testimony for Others

Psalm 126:2-3- "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.' The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad."

When you testify of God's blessings,nations see His faithfulness.

Your blessed marriage isn't for bragging.It's to show God is faithful.

It's Protection Against Pride

James 1:17- "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Recognizing God blesses =recognizing it's not you.

"My marriage is blessedbecause God is faithful" ≠ "My marriage is perfectbecause I'm smart."

First is thanksgiving. Second is pride.

Concrete Situations

Your Marriage Is Good

Say it.

"God has kept us united. It's not always easy, but His grace is sufficient.I'm grateful for my spouse."

This is not:

• ❌ Bragging
• ❌ Ignoring struggles
• ❌ Hurting those divorcing

This is:

• ✅ Glorifying God
• ✅ Encouraging those struggling ("If God did it for us, He can for you")
• ✅ Protecting your marriage (what you honor, you keep)

Proverbs 31:28- "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

If Bible encourages publicly praising spouse,you can publicly thank God for your marriage.

Your Children Walk with God

Say it.

"I see God working in my children's hearts.It's His grace, not my merit."

Parents of rebellious children won't be hurt by your thanksgiving.They'll be encouraged there's hope.

3 John 1:4- "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

John didn't hide his joy.He proclaimed it.

You Have Good Job, House, Health

Say it.

"God provides all my needs.I deserve nothing, but He is good."

Deuteronomy 8:18- "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."

Not recognizing =forgetting He gives the strength.

God Answered Your Prayers

Say it.

"I prayed for [situation]. God answered.He is faithful."

Psalm 66:16- "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul."

Telling what God does =encouraging others' faith.

Difference Between Thanksgiving and Boasting

Boasting

"My marriage is perfect because I chose right person."(You're the hero.)

"My children obey because I know how to parent."(You take credit.)

"I have good job because I'm competent."(You forget God.)

Proverbs 27:2- "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips."

Thanksgiving

"My marriage is blessed because God keeps us."(God is the hero.)

"My children walk with God by His grace alone."(God gets credit.)

"God provides my needs daily."(You recognize the source.)

Psalm 115:1- "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth."

Thanksgiving points to God. Boasting points to self.

How to Thank Without Hurting

1. Acknowledge It's Grace

"I don't deserve what God gives me. It's His pure grace."

This reminds those suffering thatGod can also bless them.

2. Don't Compare

NEVER say:"Why doesn't your marriage work like mine?"

Say:"God blessed me. I pray He does same for you."

3. Be Honest About Struggles Too

"My marriage is blessed, but we had difficult moments. God carried us."

Shows blessing ≠ perfection.Gives hope.

4. Use Your Blessing to Serve

You have solid marriage?Mentor young couple.

Your children obey?Encourage exhausted mom.

God provides your needs?Give to those in need.

Luke 12:48- "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required."

Your blessings are responsibilities.Not trophies.

5. Pray for Those Suffering

"Lord, You blessed me. Bless [name] also. Show them Your faithfulness as You showed me."

James 5:16- "Pray for one another."

Dangers of Hiding Blessings

You Steal God's Glory

Isaiah 42:8- "I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another."

When you don't say what God does,He doesn't receive glory that belongs to Him.

You Discourage Those Who Need Hope

If no one testifies of God's blessings,how will others know He still blesses?

Your silence can make someone believe"God no longer blesses marriages"or"God no longer answers prayers".

Your testimony is another's hope.

You Open Door to Ingratitude

What you don't name,you start forgetting.

If you don't thank God for your marriage daily,you'll start taking it for granted.

Deuteronomy 8:11- "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments."

You Teach Your Children Wrong

If your children never hear you thank God for what He gives,they'll grow up believing everything is normal.

They won't see God's hand in their lives.

Psalm 78:4- "We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD."

The Final Message

Thanking God for your family, marriage, children, life isn't cowardice.

It's obedience.

1 Chronicles 16:8- "Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!"

Make known.Not "hide politely".

You have good marriage?Say it. And give God glory.

Your children obey?Say it. And give God glory.

God provides your needs?Say it. And give God glory.

Stop minimizing what God does.

Stop hiding His blessings through false humility.

Stop being ashamed to say God is good to you.

Others won't be hurt by your thanksgiving.They'll be encouraged there's a God who blesses.

And if some are hurt?That's not your responsibility.

Your responsibility is glorifying God in all things.

Including when He blesses you.

Psalm 34:2-4- "My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together."

Even the afflicted rejoice when you glorify God.Because it reminds them He is faithful.

So speak.

Thank.

Glorify.

And watch God receive what belongs to Him: all glory.

Foundational Bible Verses

1 Thessalonians 5:18- "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Psalm 107:1-2- "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!... Let the redeemed of the LORD say so."

Philippians 4:4- "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

James 1:17- "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights."

Psalm 115:1- "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory."