Give Thanks
It’s a couple of days past the American Thanksgiving holiday as I write this. My husband and I spent most of the day quietly at home, but we did visit briefly, at a distance, with two close friends in the afternoon. We came to the end of the day feeling enormously blessed.
And we’re blessed despite our troubles. I hope you feel yourselves to be blessed despite yours. Paul said, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, that we are to “give thanks in all circumstances” (NIV) and he meant it. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a directive. For despite our problems, we have much to be grateful for. Because of our problems, we have much to be grateful for. Problems can be, in God’s hands, among our greatest blessings, as many have discovered.
Though God is present and active at all times, I believe He can do the most in us and with us and for us when times are the toughest. That’s when we’re most apt to recognize our need of Him and to seek Him out.
So . . . now, when we’re sick, as some of you are or have been; when whole countries are in disarray and under threat; when friends and family members find themselves on opposite sides of what seems to be a vast, uncrossable divide; when some of us are questioning the strength of our faith and whether or not our relationship with Jesus is what we thought it was – now is it asked of us to be thankful?
In a word, yes.
It’s easy, or at least easier, to trust God in the good times, or so it seems to me. I have no difficulty being grateful for what are clearly, noticeably, blessings – things like comfortable shelter, reliable transportation, good health, love in the home, a gorgeous sunset, tasty food, books, mountains and green trees, parents and sister, educational opportunities, a sweet kitty, church and church family, and much more.
But throw a threatening world-wide illness in, add some significant social unrest, and top all that off with extremely unfortunate political ills (from whichever side you’re looking), and – wow! things change.
Still, our injunction is to give thanks in all circumstances. How can we reasonably be expected to do that? Is it even possible? It is, and it involves faith. As we look at how God has led us in the past, familiarize ourselves with His promises for the present and the future, and trust Him, we can be assured that all will turn out well for those who are His. All things do work together for good (Romans 8:28) as we’ve always been told. We have not a thing to fear, whatever our situations look like, feel like, are. All will eventually be remedied. We will understand then what we don’t understand now about our tough times.
In the meantime, it is ours to keep moving, ours to believe, ours to enjoy God’s blessings to us whatever form they may take, ours to express our gratitude.
What are you thankful for?
8 Comments
Beth
Oh my how this spoke to me! 💗
ckarlstrom
I can imagine why! I had no idea what you were going through, and to read your post a few minutes ago, and to find we’d used the same text and everything, really moved me. I’m SO glad you’ve come out the other side! May the Lord continue to bless!!
Sherri
Yes, it’s been a rough year–can’t get together very easily with family and friends, trips canceled, turmoil in the world…yet, I wake up feeling hopeful. Every day. My family is well, we can meet in the backyard (for awhile, anyway!) , we have food and shelter. I have a fun little dog and we go for walks every day, see a few neighbors, even exchange a few words. There’s news of a vaccine on the way! For all of these things, I’m grateful and give thanks.
ckarlstrom
That’s an excellent perspective and an excellent report! Thanks so much for posting!!
Trudie
This is a great blog as 2020 comes to an end…You’re right, it’s easy to Praise God when you’re on the mountain tops and things are going well…but not so easy giving thanks when we slide down into the valley…is there ever a time when there is not purpose in suffering? Thank you for the blog…attitude of gratitude ♥️
ckarlstrom
Thank you so much, Trudie! Just love your insight!!
Melissa Forster
I am a nurse and from Canada.As we are getting more covid 19 pts I fear we have to choose who gets to live and who don’t as beds are filling up not with covid 19 pts but regular sick pts. I am grateful for everything I have and still able to enjoy . I love my job.I met a lady the other day and somehow drawn to her .She is actively dying but somehow entranged from her kids .For some reason God put me there to comfort her .I didn’t know she has not spoken to her kids for years and I didn’t want her to die alone.Sometimes I wonder why one have to be dying before you forgive each other.Why holding on to so much grudges in life and wasting all those times ..Be grateful and embrace life .Reconnect and live life with no regrets. I am so glad she is not alone today and I hope her kids will reconnect with her .
ckarlstrom
Thanks so much, Melissa, for your thoughtful reply. What a sad, sorry set of circumstances you’re faced with – I don’t envy you being in your position. Thank you very much for doing what you do and for hanging inthete in these awful circumstances. Love and hugs to you . . . ♥️