Gratitude and Resilience: Rooted in God’s Faithfulness

Today, we gathered to reflect on the deep connection between gratitude and resilience, drawing from the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19. In this passage, Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem and the cross, pauses in the borderlands between Samaria and Galilee—a place of rejection and mixed identities. Even as He moves toward His ultimate sacrifice, He is never too busy to meet those in need, even those who feel far from acceptance or belonging. This is a powerful reminder that Christ is present in our own “borderlands”—the places where we feel stuck, isolated, or unworthy.

The ten lepers, standing at a distance, cry out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” The word “Master” is significant; it’s a term of authority, usually reserved for disciples. These outsiders recognize Jesus’ authority before they see His power. Gratitude, then, begins not when we see God’s activity, but when we trust His authority in the midst of our pain and uncertainty.

Jesus instructs the lepers to go show themselves to the priests, even though they are not yet healed. As they obey, healing comes “as they went.” This is a profound lesson: gratitude and resilience grow when we move forward in faith, trusting God’s word before we see the outcome. The Samaritan, doubly rejected by society and religion, finds himself with no priest to run to. Instead, he returns to Jesus, the true High Priest, falling at His feet in worship and thanksgiving. In response, Jesus not only acknowledges his gratitude but declares him “made well”—a wholeness that goes beyond physical healing to restoration of the heart.

Gratitude is not the absence of struggle, but the recognition of God’s faithfulness in the midst of it. Like a tree with deep roots, gratitude anchors us so that when storms come, we may bend but not break. The Japanese art of kintsugi, which fills cracks with gold, illustrates how God doesn’t erase our brokenness but fills it with His grace, making our lives more beautiful and resilient. When we let gratitude take root, resilience becomes the fruit, and our broken places become places where God’s glory shines.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Gratitude sees God in hard places Gratitude is not dependent on circumstances but on recognizing God’s presence and authority, even when we feel distant or rejected. The lepers saw Jesus from afar and called Him “Master,” trusting Him before seeing any evidence of His power. This kind of gratitude is born in the borderlands of life, where pain and isolation are real, but so is the nearness of Christ. [73:19]
• 2. Gratitude obeys before it sees True gratitude is expressed in obedience that precedes understanding or visible results. The lepers moved toward the priests while still diseased, and healing came as they went. Faithful obedience, rooted in gratitude, often requires us to act on God’s word before we see the outcome, trusting that His promises are true even when our circumstances haven’t changed yet. [81:29]
• 3. Gratitude is the gateway to wholeness Only one leper returned to give thanks, and he received not just healing but wholeness—restoration that touched his soul, not just his body. Gratitude opens our broken places to God’s restoring grace, transforming our wounds into places of new life. Wholeness is found not in the absence of cracks, but in allowing God to fill them with His presence and love. [95:25]
• 4. Deep roots of gratitude produce resilience Like a tree with deep roots, a life grounded in gratitude can withstand storms without breaking. Every remembrance of God’s faithfulness grows our roots deeper, making us unbreakable in the face of adversity. Complaining and bitterness weaken our foundation, but gratitude strengthens and sustains us through every trial. [61:36]
• 5. God fills our cracks with grace God does not erase our brokenness but fills it with His grace, much like the art of kintsugi. Our fractures become places where His glory shines, and our stories of pain become testimonies of His restoration. When we offer our brokenness to God in gratitude, He makes us whole and uses our lives to reflect His beauty. [97:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [46:56] - Opening Praise and Worship
• [47:57] - Introduction and Scripture Reading
• [48:39] - The Call to Be Present
• [49:29] - Theological Richness of Luke 17
• [50:45] - Jesus Meets the Ten Lepers
• [51:11] - The Borderlands: Rejection and Acceptance
• [52:16] - The One Who Turned Back
• [54:15] - Resilience and Gratitude Defined
• [55:42] - The Tree and the Roots: Real vs. Fake Resilience
• [57:34] - Gratitude in the Midst of Struggle
• [59:52] - Deep Roots and Spiritual Strength
• [66:45] - Point 1: Gratitude Sees God in Hard Places
• [78:09] - Point 2: Gratitude Obeys Before It Sees
• [84:10] - Point 3: Gratitude is the Gateway to Wholeness
• [96:08] - Kintsugi: God Fills Our Cracks
• [100:08] - Invitation and Prayer
• [102:28] - Declaration of Gratitude and Closing

Bible Reading

Luke 17:11-19 (ESV) — 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Observation Questions

1. Where was Jesus traveling, and what is significant about the location between Samaria and Galilee? ([50:14])
2. What did the ten lepers call Jesus, and why is the word “Master” important in this story? ([01:15:04])
3. When did the lepers experience healing—before, during, or after they obeyed Jesus’ instruction? ([01:20:10])
4. What was different about the one leper who returned to Jesus, and what did Jesus say to him that was unique? ([01:25:19])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes Jesus as being “in the borderlands”—places of rejection and mixed identities. What does it mean for Jesus to be present in our own “borderlands” or places of isolation? ([01:13:19])
2. The lepers called Jesus “Master” before they saw any evidence of his power. What does this reveal about the relationship between gratitude and trust in God’s authority? ([01:17:44])
3. Only one leper returned to give thanks and received not just healing but wholeness. What is the difference between being healed and being made whole, according to the sermon? ([01:35:25])
4. The sermon uses the image of a tree with deep roots and the art of kintsugi. How do these images help us understand the connection between gratitude, resilience, and God’s work in our brokenness? ([01:37:23])

Application Questions

1. The lepers were in a place of rejection and distance, yet Jesus met them there. Are there “borderlands” in your life right now—places where you feel stuck, isolated, or unworthy? How might you look for Jesus’ presence in those places this week? ([01:13:19])
2. The lepers obeyed Jesus’ command before they saw any change in their situation. Is there an area in your life where God is asking you to trust and obey before you see results? What would it look like to take a step of faith this week? ([01:21:29])
3. The sermon says, “Gratitude is not the absence of struggle, but the recognition of God’s faithfulness in the midst of it.” Think of a current struggle or pain. What is one way you can practice gratitude in that situation? ([01:58:06])
4. Only one leper returned to give thanks. When was the last time you intentionally thanked God for something specific He has done? How can you make gratitude a regular part of your daily routine? ([01:25:19])
5. The image of kintsugi shows God filling our cracks with grace. Are there broken places in your life that you have tried to hide or ignore? What would it look like to offer those places to God in gratitude and let Him fill them with His grace? ([01:37:23])
6. The sermon warns that complaining and bitterness weaken our foundation, but gratitude strengthens us. Are there areas where you tend to complain or feel bitter? What is one practical way you can shift your focus to gratitude this week? ([01:01:36])
7. The Samaritan leper received wholeness because he returned to Jesus. Is there an area in your life where you need more than just a solution—you need true restoration or wholeness? How can you bring that to Jesus in prayer and thanksgiving? ([01:35:25])