Why be Thankful

Thanksgiving is a truly special time of the year. It’s that peculiar moment where we reflect on the days, months and years gone by, we ponder on our losses but even more so on our gains/blessings. It’s a moment in time where our busyness stands still in order to show gratitude to Abba and then we extend this to our family, friends, coworkers, other loved ones, and also to our enemies. 

In this period of time we live in, it can surely be a bit difficult to utter thanks and I truly understand. We have been faced with great pain, sorrow and frustration as a result of everything happening in the world. A lot of families have lost loved ones and this experience is painful to grapple with. May the peace of God cover everyone who has gone and is going through a difficult season. It’s my prayer that you hold unto His unfailing hands because through Him you will be strengthened and shall prevail. 

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 reminds us that we should  “Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I question how one can be thankful while enduring hardships. These situations appear to be built to destroy us. When one encounters a sorrowful or devastating situation the last thing the mind thinks on is to give thanks. Yet still in 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 18 the bible tells us that this is what God expects of us? How in the world would that even be possible? During these situations we may barely have strength to endure the trial, we may feel defeated and just want to give up. We want things to just become better again, fast. However, as much as I wish this is how situations would occur, the reality is absolutely different. We are placed through a period of learning to endure through the trial, the hurt, or pain. The only way we can make it through is through Jesus Christ. He is and will always be our only hope. When we are faced with diverse situations we should rest in Christ. When we abide in Him we find peace through the storm and learn to even praise and worship Him during the storm. I wanna share a little passage with you and I hope that it speaks peace to your heart. 

That day, at evening, Jesus said to his followers, “Come with me across the lake.” So they left the crowd behind and went with Jesus in the boat he was already in. There were also other boats that went with them. A very bad wind came up on the lake. The waves were coming over the sides and into the boat, and it was almost full of water. Jesus was inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went and woke him. They said, “Teacher, don’t you care about us? We are going to drown!” Jesus stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. He said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind stopped, and the lake became calm. He said to his followers, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were very afraid and asked each other, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the water obey him!”

Mark 4:35-41 ERV

Christ was asleep in the boat as if they were sailing on cool and calm waves. No! They were about to drown, or so they thought. Yet still Christ, the Great Rabbi was fast asleep? Are you serious? How is it humanly possible to be sound asleep during a raging storm? It’s not like their boat was just tossing side to side in the storm but it was being filled with actual water. Clearly the storm had it out for them and they found Jesus fast asleep with His head on a pillow? In truth and in fact, that’s not humanly possible. During a stressful situation and when faced with turmoil our first instinct is to ‘Panic’. Christ displayed to the disciples in the boat something beautiful and so powerful. He showed them how not to worry when faced with situations that appear to be constructed to drown us. He was asleep and trusted in the Love of His Father. He didn’t allow the storms outside to shake His faith in Abba. He knew that He was facing a huge storm, but chose to lean not on his understanding and just trust God. He knew that even while they were facing a storm in the boat, Abba was right there with them. He knew that He was engulfed in safe hands and when He spoke to the storm, it would obey instantly. He promised to never leave us to drown. He only wants us to Trust, not worry, pray, and give thanks because He will answer us and carry us through the storm safely. 

 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Philippians: 4:6-7 MSG

 Abba has deep love and compassion for us and regardless of what we go through He is close to us; the brokenhearted. He wants us to cast all our cares unto Him because he wants to take care of us. ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus’, is a powerful hymn which speaks of true love, compassion and friendship we have in Him.

“What a Friend we have in Jesus,

  All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

  O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

2

Have we trials and temptations?

  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

  Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

  Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

  Thou wilt find a solace there.”

_{https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/789}

 We only need to practise to daily take everything to Him in prayer, praise and thanksgiving and then His love will escort us into His presence where His peace will fill us up. He will empower us with enough grace and unexplainable power to face the storm stronger and come out better. 

Why Give Thanks?

Simply because His will, will find you there. 

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 136:1 KJV