As you prepare for gatherings with friends and family this week, what circumstance is tainting your viewpoint of thankfulness?
Maybe it is the thought of being with certain family members next week.
Or that someone will be missing at this year’s celebrations.
Maybe you are thinking about a wayward child, parent, or friend.
It could be the diagnosis of cancer.
The reality of being alone again this holiday season.
Job loss.
Finances.
Marriage Issues.
Insecurities.
The list is endless, but not hopeless…
We have a King. A Provider. Our Hope. And we have His Living Word. In the midst of these moments of pain and trials, we have a choice in our response to these circumstances. We can choose to let these moments rule our attitudes and thinking or we can choose to focus on our Creator and his intentions for these events in our life.
Suffering is real, the bible speaks of it. But there is comfort in knowing that God is in control in both the “good times” and the “bad times”. Suffering doesn’t happen because our Lord wasn’t paying attention …let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good (1 Peter 4:19). And with this comes a promise that after a little while… the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10). The “little while” doesn’t always feel like a short period of time, but it is when you compare it to the joy of eternity!
Our Source of Hope provides us with an example of giving thanks in the midst of suffering:
Luke 22:17-19 “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ‘
The tradition was to give thanks during this portion of the Passover meal. But Jesus knew – HE KNEW – this was a symbol for centuries of the coming of the Messiah. The final Passover Lamb. Him! He was giving thanks knowing he was about to suffer as The Lamb. As he passed the cup, he knew how his blood was to be shed. As he broke the bread, he knew how his body was going to be beaten and battered for a sacrifice for all. All within a matter of hours….
And he gave THANKS.
We are fortunate to not know what suffering we will endure, and when it does come our way, we can still thank our Lord for His perfect plan in refining us. Romans 5:3-5 tells us to: rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
THANKFULNESS
There are over 150 bible verses talking about thankfulness. I will not list them all here, but will give you a few that have beautiful commands with them…
Psalm 107:1 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Give THANKS! FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD!
Philippians 4:6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Colossians 3:15-16 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Our response to suffering can be thankfulness because it produces peace, wisdom, character, perseverance, hope. And because God is sovereign over it all and He is good and His love endures forever.
In preparation for Thanksgiving this week, how will you respond to your circumstances? I pray you will take Christ’s example and prepare your heart with thanksgiving even in the midst of your trials. Remember, no matter your current pain, the Savior conquered sin and death on the cross and his resurrection granting us something to be eternally thankful for that provides peace through all sufferings.
