Why is giving thanks such a struggle sometimes? It could be the most beautiful fall day, like we’ve had lately, and my heart doesn’t sing God’s praises. By His mercy, the Holy Spirit reminds me to look up, and find something to be thankful for. “Thank you for the blue sky…” My stubborn mood starts to change.
Meanwhile, a pastor in a slum, dirt poor, shouts over and over to his tiny congregation, “I can breathe! I can breathe! I can breathe,” like he was just given a million dollars! Why does the young mother who tragically lost her baby cling to God’s faithfulness and goodness? How can people locked in prison for their faith be filled with joy?
Some of the most grateful and joyful people I’ve ever met have been some of the poorest, most grief-stricken, and most afflicted. Why is that? I think they’ve learned NOT to rely on circumstances or be led by their feelings. They rely on God’s strong love and faithfulness.
I don’t mean to shame myself or anyone else who struggles to be thankful in normal everyday life. It seems natural to forget Who blesses us. Tough days happen. It’s good to remember the command to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for [us] in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18) The act of thanking God for something He did or for who He is has humbled me lately. It reminds me that everything I have comes from Him, and I can trust Him to care for me.
Circumstances are always changing, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) How about when the situation doesn’t change? Is there a way to give thanks in a trial that never seems to end?
This happened recently:
“Mom, none of my plants are growing,” our 8 year-old gardener moaned. He had been faithfully watering some tiny part of an oak tree – not an acorn – hoping it would grow inside this winter. So we hunted outside for what makes a new oak tree. We talked about how an acorn gets pushed down into the dirt. It splits apart as a little green shoot pops out and tries to find the sun. The new tree grows as the old acorn turns into dirt and disappears.
Maybe we’re like acorns. Life gets dark and dirty. Our own hearts may be splitting apart. But new life grows out of the trouble. Even if sunlight seems impossibly far away, God’s salvation is coming. The acorn talk was a hopeful conversation. But this process takes a lot longer than an eight year-old suspected. His sails fell a little when he heard it would take all winter before anything would appear above ground. It’s so hard to wait. We don’t know what we are growing up to become. But the Creator gives us clues: mighty, unshakeable faith can grow if we wait for His timing. If you are in a dark time of waiting, may the Lord pour out grace on you. You will get to see Him work in a special way. “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God… giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:14a, 23)
Thank you, Father, for obvious things like blue sky, and chats with children. Thank you, too, for the hidden things you are doing in each of us, on good days, and through the troubles that push us under. “I pray that from your glorious, unlimited resources you will empower us with inner strength through your Holy Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in our hearts as we trust in him. Our roots will grow down into God’s love and keep us strong.” (from Ephesians 3:16,17) “To all who mourn in [your Church], give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.” (from Isaiah 61:3)
