Cultivating Gratitude, Grounding Patience: The Key to Calm in the Midst of Life’s Anxiety

darulmaarif.net – Indramayu, 10 October 2025 | 13.00 WIB

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of modern life, which is fast-paced and full of pressure, people often lose direction in their search for calm. The pursuit of ambition, social competition and the demands of the digital world make the heart easily tired and the mind is no longer peaceful. In situations like this, Islam presents two timeless keys to soothing the heart: be patient and grateful. These two spiritual values ​​are not just moral teachings, but the foundation of life that leads a Muslim to balance and true happiness.

Allah SWT confirms this in the Qur’an:

And when your Lord said: If you are grateful, I will surely give you more, but if you disbelieve, then indeed My punishment will be very heavy.

Meaning: “And (remember) when your Lord told you: If you give thanks, We will surely increase it to you; but if you deny it, then my punishment will be very painful.” (QS. Ibrahim verse 7)

This verse is the main basis for every believer to continue it be thankful in every condition. Imam al-Ghozali explained that gratitude is not enough just to express it verbally give thanksbut it must involve the heart and good deeds. According to him, gratitude means realizing that all blessings come from Allah SWT, growing happiness in the heart, then using those blessings in a way that is pleasing to Him.

In the current context, be patient and grateful become a shield from envy and stress due to social comparisons on digital media. Give thanks means looking at every gift with the eyes of the heart, not the eyes of the world. It is a prayer that flies high into the sky, breaking through the limits of the ego, until it arrives at the sincerity of accepting the destiny of Allah Ta’ala.

Gratitude That Reaches the Sky

Sheikh Abu Hasan al-Syadzili, a great Sufi, said that the essence be thankful is when a servant does not stop at blessings, but instead looks at the Giver of blessings. This means that true gratitude is not for what we have, but for the awareness that it is Allah who gives. With this view, a believer will see the world as a bridge, not a destination.

In modern life, be patient and grateful leads us to stop for a moment, reflect, and realize how many blessings are often forgotten. The air we breathe, the time we have, even the ability to worship—all are great gifts that should be grateful for. So, Give thanks means letting our hearts rise to the peak of Divine consciousness, the place where all anxiety disappears.

Patience: Grounded Strength

However, life does not always contain pleasure. There are times when trials, loss, and sadness come uninvited. This is where it comes into play Be patient tested. Allah Ta’ala said:

O believers, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient.

Meaning: “O you who believe, ask for help with patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient.” (QS. Al-Baqoroh Verse 153)

This verse confirms that Be patient Not just restraint, but a form of spiritual help. In facing difficulties, patience is the foundation that allows a believer to stand tall. His Majesty Rosululloh SAW said:

How amazing is the affairs of the believer, because all his affairs are good, and they do not belong to anyone except the believer. If something good befalls him, then he is grateful, and it is good for him, even if good befalls him. Dharaa is patient So it is better for her

Meaning: “The thing of a believer is truly amazing. Indeed, all his efforts are good for him. If he is grateful, then it is also good for him. (HR. Muslim Imamah)

This hadith emphasizes the balance between be patient and grateful as two sides of a Muslim’s life. When he is free, he is grateful; when narrow, he is patient—and both bring good to him.

Hurts patience in everyday life

Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghozali divided Be patient Into three levels: Patience in obedience, patience in avoiding evil, and patience in accepting SWT’s destiny. Grounding patience means making it real in every step of life—refraining from complaints, remaining steadfast in worship, and accepting every test with grace. Sheikh Abu Hasan al-Syadzili reminded:

“Do not ask Allah to be moved from one situation to another, but ask that you always be with Allah in every situation.”

This message is so relevant in the modern era. Many people try to get out of difficulties in the wrong way: running away, complaining, or giving up. Whereas, be patient and grateful is the middle way that guides us to stay with Allah, both in good times and bad.

Two wings of life: Patience and gratitude

If gratitude lifts your heart to the sky, then be patient to strengthen your feet on the earth. These two strengths are what make a believer able to walk firmly in the midst of life. By being grateful, you avoid disbelief; In patience, he avoids despair.

Be patient and grateful are two wings that make the human soul fly towards the pleasure of Allah. Without both, life will be unequal—it’s easy to be arrogant when it’s spacious and it’s easy to despair when it’s narrow. But with both, a believer becomes strong, calm, and wise.

In the midst of a world full of distractions and uncertainty, let’s ask ourselves: have we really… Give thanks for countless blessings, and grounded patience Facing the storms of life’s tests that come and go?

Hope it is useful. Wallohu a’lam.