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[41:49] The human being never tires of imploring for good things. And when adversity befalls him, he turns despondent, desperate.
If we can appreciate the fact that God is actually blessing us by showing us the areas we need to work on, then we can face these adversities with more calmness. Most people have no idea that they should be working on growing their souls to come closer to God. They stumble through their lives with no understanding that this life is a mere illusion and the Hereafter is the goal. They don’t recognize the concept of accountability for their actions, either assuming that someone will intercede and save them or figuring there’s nothing after this life anyway. We are so blessed to have this knowledge. [38:46] We bestowed upon them a great blessing: awareness of the Hereafter. We need to be appreciative of this fact. And that appreciation can be the antidote to adversity.
Humans are stingy by nature (17:100, 96:6, 70:21). It’s something we have to work to overcome. [59:9] .... Indeed, those who overcome their natural stinginess are the successful ones. We have a tendency to hoard possessions, afraid that we’ll run out (3:180, 9:34, sura 102). Instead of worrying about losing something, take inventory of all you have. Not just material things, though those are great to enjoy in this world, but also health, friends, peace of mind, the knowledge that God is the Provider. There’s a song that says if you count your blessings instead of sheep, you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings. When you realize how much you have, you can more easily share with others. [14:34] And He gives you all kinds of things that you implore Him for. If you count GOD’s blessings, you can never encompass them. Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative. Appreciation is an antidote to stinginess.
Human beings are weak, anxious and lost. We seem to have so much to be afraid of—violence all around us, global warming, economic crises. But we know that God is in full control of everything. He created the earth and everything on it. He knows what every creature is doing, saying, even thinking at any given moment. With that kind of awesome power, it’s easy to appreciate that He can protect us from everything out there. [4:28] GOD wishes to lighten your burden, for the human being is created weak. He can take away the anxiety and fear, if we let Him, if we turn completely to Him as 22:15 says. Think how God has protected you throughout your life; appreciate how much worse each occasion might have been. Appreciation is an antidote to fear.
Humans are very impatient. We want everything to happen right now, in our time. [21:37] The human being is impatient by nature. I will inevitably show you My signs; do not be in such a hurry. But we have to understand that only God has the master plan. Each thing that happens to us meshes with things happening to people around us. If we can just relax and know that God is running the show, and He’s doing it flawlessly, life can be so much simpler. I am impatient waiting in line or waiting at a stop light. So I use the time to think of God’s attributes or recite verses from Quran. Or I do something mindless, like a crossword puzzle to help those few minutes pass. I’m much calmer and I can be appreciative of the alternative things God has provided for me. I remember that God is doing everything; everything happens for a reason. I’m exactly where I’m meant to be at that moment. Appreciation is an antidote to impatience.
Humans like to argue, in fact God says we’re the most argumentative creature (18:54). We have strong opinions and we don’t like to budge from those understandings. We tend not to listen to another side of an argument, just formulating our staunch response. Sometimes it seems the less we know of a subject, the stronger is our opinion on it.
And we’ll fight to prove we’re right, even if we really don’t know. When it comes to our knowledge of God, we need to be steadfast and strong in our stand against disbelievers. But God tells us [16:125] You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones.
We have to appreciate the fact that only God knows what’s truly in someone’s heart. We shouldn’t be name-calling or arguing harshly with anyone. We need to deliver God’s message in the best way possible and then leave it God. [25:63] The worshipers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace.
What a blessing to say peace to someone, and diffuse the argument completely. When we truly appreciate that God controls all the hearts and minds, it’s easier to let go of an argument and walk away. Appreciation is the antidote to argumentative behavior.
The ego is a primary culprit for those who stray away from God. We were evicted from Paradise in the first place because of the ego. And it’s the ego we have to work all our lives to kill. It’s ego that caused people to kill messengers, just as Cain killed his brother Abel because of ego. Today millions get killed every year from arrogance, jealousy, hatred, and fear—all driven by the ego. If we can realize how little control we have over anything, if we can recognize how God runs everything; basically, if we can just get out of our own way, we can truly be appreciative of all we have and how wonderful life is. We can use appreciation as an antidote to ego.
God tells us that as human beings we are unappreciative by nature. We tend to believe only what we see in front of us; we see all that others have attained and we want a piece of that; we fight and argue and steal and cheat in order to get ahead in this world, never appreciating all we have.
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