澳洲水手提姆駕駛的遊艇在太平洋遭受風暴襲擊，船隻受損，使他在距離陸地約2,000公里的海面上漂流了三個月。在這期間，他僅靠著吃生魚、喝雨水生存。當他幾乎絕望時，一艘墨西哥鮪魚船的船員發現了他那破損的遊艇，才將他救起。後來，瘦弱且飽經風霜的提姆表示：「我實在感激救我一命的船長和漁業公司，真的很感激！」

提姆在經歷磨難之後表達感謝，然而，先知但以理卻是在危難之前、之中、之後都展露感恩的心。但以理與其他猶太人一起被擄到巴比倫（但以理書1章1-6節），他掌權後卻遭其他官員嫉妒，想置他於死地（6章1-7節）。那些官員說服巴比倫王頒布禁令：「不拘何人，若在王以外，或向神或向人求什麼，就必扔在獅子坑中」（7節）。那愛上帝又忠心事奉獨一真神的但以理，會怎麼做呢？他「雙膝跪在他上帝面前，禱告感謝，與素常一樣」（10節）。但以理感謝上帝，而他感恩的心得到回報，上帝救他脫離險境並使他得尊榮（26-28節）。

正如使徒保羅勸勉眾信徒，要「凡事謝恩」（帖撒羅尼迦前書5章18節），願上帝幫助我們，能夠時時感謝上帝。無論我們是正面臨危機，還是剛度過危機，當我們感謝上帝，不僅可以榮耀上帝，還能幫助我們繼續信靠祂。

Raw fish and rainwater. An Australian sailor named Timothy survived on only those provisions for three months. Marooned on his storm-damaged catamaran, he was losing hope—bobbing 1,200 miles from land in the Pacific Ocean. But then the crew of a Mexican tuna boat spotted his ailing boat and rescued him. Later, the thin and weather-beaten man declared, “To the captain and fishing company that saved my life, I’m just so grateful!”

Timothy gave thanks following his ordeal, but the prophet Daniel revealed a grateful heart before, during, and after a crisis. Having been exiled to Babylon from Judah with other Jews (Daniel 1:1-6), Daniel had risen in power only to be threatened by other leaders who wanted him dead (6:1-7). His foes got the king of Babylon to sign a decree stating that anyone who prayed “to any god” would be “thrown into the lions’ den” (v. 7). What would Daniel, a man who loved and served the one true God, do? He “got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to . . . God, just as he had done before” (v. 10). He gave thanks, and his grateful heart was rewarded as God spared his life and brought him honor (vv. 26-28).

As the apostle Paul wrote, may God help us “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Whether we’re facing a crisis or have just come through one, a grateful response honors Him and helps keep our faith afloat.