Salam
About gratefulness towards God.. Before I've been thinking different and I was able to feel grateful in a simple way. I thought that everything I get is mercy and with love from God. After I read some Quran verses, that everything is fitnah I can't have the same feeling anymore. Sometimes it's even given with bad intention.
Some of the examples
Verse 64:15 Your property and children are only a trial (if it's only a trial then it's not simply a gift with love, if it's not a gift or a reward how can you be grateful?)
Verse 39:49 And when adversity touches man, he calls upon Us; then when We bestow on him a favor from Us, he says, "I have only been given it because of [my] knowledge." Rather, it is a trial, but most of them do not know. (If you asked, and it was given to you, but not as a mercy..then how to feel grateful? If you ask a person for help, and they help you, but they feel no good and kind intention towards you how will you feel?)
So my problem now is how can you be grateful if something was not given you with love in the first place, or you cannot be sure about the intention towards you. If you get my point. Imagine your friend gives you a gift, and he says this is only to see if you will be gratefull. How will you feel? Will you be able to be grateful?
Peace...
Comparisons are key. It clarifies things better. But Don't ever compare God literally with human.. It wil never give any constructive meaning.. I said this coz you compared and the result you found is weak..
Okay your topic.. Very good one.. You are identical to one recent member Sarah.. She Keeps on posting everything.. And sometimes repeating.. I don't see her much nowadays.. Anyhow we all learning..
First of all we are created and created for testing or trial.. Don't derail from that.. But God gave us many an innumerable FAVORS which we can't even enumerate..
God advises for our betterment in advance that it is a trial and not to get deceived... That very advice you took utterly negative..
Everything is good but those everything could turn the table.. Unless we forget that this World's life is a trial... It's like a trap but well known trap.. Don't fall into the trap wittingly.. Find ways to avoid trap and be successful..
It's like a gift one gives to you.. Suppose knife.. He says you have many benefits with this knife and it may take your life as well.. You were in need of the knife... You are so happy using it.. Why can't you be thankful to the one who gave you.. Coz you were in need.. And if that same knife if you happen to kill an innocent.. Will you blame the one who gave you.. Did he give you to kill a person.. Was it his intention when he gifted you..
Same way 64:15 God gave spouse and children with shear mercy.. Don't turn it as your agony.. It's all in our hand.. Pass the trial..
For that be wise and grateful to the one who gave everything... Reward is waiting for the trial.. How merciful He could be? Not just a trial without being rewarded.. But full of rewards..
God didn't hide. He is clear.. This life is not reward... But a trial but with lots of NI'MA (favour).. Why can't we be grateful to one who favored in our need.. In 39:49 weren't they in need? So what suits most when one favors us in real need.. Be grateful.. I wonder how you missed the basic..
Incredible what you claim..
Or else.. Take this example..
Suppose you are an athlete.. You decided to be an athlete.. So fortunately one sponsored you and gave you almost everything. All you have to do is be on track and perform.. For that needs much application of commitment and hard work..
Can you say in between all they want is my medal and I am suffering .. It's not they love me but my medal.. You can't say so.. Coz its you decision to become an athlete your dream.. Medal is your goal and medal is their happiness.... So be thankful to the one who gave this opportunity..
Same way we are in this trial coz of our own acceptance... We did accept this life and trial.. That's what God claim.. That's why God created platform for that.. Not created the Earth and heavens in vain .. As medal is the aim of athlete, Reward is our aim.. And happiness of God when you receive the reward is all what God wants..
God is pleased then with us and we are pleased with God..