Notice Jesus did not pray for the loaves and fishes to be increased, He only gave thanks.

9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"
10 Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."
13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Jn. 6:9-13

It was remembered as where the Lord gave thanks.

22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples,
but His disciples had gone away alone--
23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks John 6:22-23

The giving of thanks is not connected to having received the answer, but to releasing the answer.

Spiritual Principle: The giving of thanks to God releases His increase.

Implications:
• You don't have to receive the blessing or increase in order to give thanks.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col 3:17

• You can give heart-felt thanks in difficult and trying times.

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess. 5:18

Contentment: being satisfied with present conditions; a quiet, uncomplaining, satisfied mind; content.

...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Philippians 4:11

Paul gave thanks in a difficult situation at Philippi.

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.  Acts 16:22-26

Paul gave thanks in a life-threatening storm.

33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.

34 "Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you."
35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.  Acts 27:33-36

The Will of God for us is to always have a continual melody of thanksgiving in our hearts.

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Eph 5:19-20

Measure the blessings of your life looking back, not forward.

Look at what you have... not at what you don't have.

All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.  Proverbs 15:15