What if the key to walking by faith is found in your very first response to pressure? In this episode, Dr. Jim shows how a week of breakdowns and uncertainty became a doorway into supernatural peace when he chose to abound with thanksgiving. If you want a faith that rises above circumstances, you’ll find the starting point here: faith begins with “Thank You.”
In this episode, Dr. Jim recounts a week when every vehicle he relied on broke down at once, leaving him overwhelmed and unsure how to move forward. While wrestling with the pressure of unmet needs, God used Colossians 2:6–7 to redirect his heart: the life of faith isn’t powered by human problem-solving but by abounding with thanksgiving. As he began thanking God for the very things that were weighing him down, peace replaced panic and God provided in unmistakable ways. His story shows that genuine faith doesn’t start when circumstances improve. Faith begins with “Thank You.”
Topics Discussed
- An avalanche of vehicle breakdowns and impossible logistics
- The human tendency to try to figure everything out instead of walk by faith
- How Colossians 2:6–7 ties faith and thanksgiving together
- The difference between thanking God for blessings and thanking Him for burdens
- Why thanksgiving is an act of faith, not a feeling
- How choosing gratitude transforms your spirit in the middle of difficulty
- God’s surprising provision of a truck and Suburban
- Why the spiritual breakthrough mattered more than the material answers
Key Takeaways
- You received Christ by faith, and you walk in Him the same way: by trusting Him enough to thank Him even before the answers come.
- Thanksgiving is not a reaction to good circumstances; it is the expression of faith that God is working when you cannot see how.
- When you choose to say “thank You” in the middle of pressure, God lifts the weight and gives grace that changes everything.
Referenced Resources
- Short Clip: “Abounding Faith”
The brief clip Dr. Jim saw on WhatsApp status from Bobby Bosler.
Youtube Short, Instagram Reel, Facebook Reel, TikTok Short - Full Sermon: “Abounding with Thanksgiving”
The full message Dr. Jim mentioned, unpacking Colossians 2:6–7 and the connection between faith and gratitude.
Listen on Spotify, Listen on Apple Podcasts
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Dr. Jim Van Gelderen is president of Minutemen Ministries, vice-president of Baptist College of Ministry, and evangelist out of Falls Baptist Church. He and his wife, Rhonda, travel the country in evangelism. They have three daughters.
