Giving Thanks

This week the United States celebrates Thanksgiving Day.  Many people spend the day with their families and eat until they can't get another bite in their mouths.  Growing up, I would usually go to my grandparents house for Thanksgiving with the rest of my family after the Thanksgiving church service.  I think about it though and I want to be thankful more than once a year. In fact we should be thankful on a constant basis.  God requires that we show Him gratitude for all He has done.  No matter what country you are from, you can celebrate Thanksgiving because we should always be giving thanks. Not just when things are going well but in all things, we should be. We should worship the Lord with thanksgiving.

I know that there's countless people who are hurting and not feeling very thankful right now.  Maybe you lost your job and you are struggling to get by each day.  Maybe you are feeling a bit lost and not sure what Gof has in store for you.  The doctor may have come back with your test results, only to tell you the news you have been dreading.  Maybe you have lost loved ones this year and really don't feel like celebrating anything because it's just too painful.  The tragedies in the shootings again this year were horrific.  Thousands more lives lost or changed forever because of violence.  The hurricanes this year has destroyed homes and many were killed.  The eakrthquake that occurred in the Middle East, yet another devastation.  Maybe you are reading this and you are one of the people affected by these tragedies, or something else that has really been painful and a devastating blow to your life.

You may be asking me through your computer screen, how can I say to be thankful when it hurts.  I have to be honest with you, I have asked that question many times in my life.  I have lost dear loved ones at a young age in my life, including my own father.  I have battled different medical challenges throughout my life.  But I have so much to be thankful for.  No matter what we go through in life, there's always something that is positive.  You are now asking me,... "Are you kidding me?!"  Allow me to give you a little story of when my dad had his heart attack and was in and out of hospitals....

When my dad was critical and we really didn't know if he was going to pull through, we were out of state and nowhere near home.  Even so, the body of Christ surrounded us.  They took care of us when we needed it and they visited us and prayed over us and for us regularly.  In spite of all of that was going on, my faith was strengthened and my relationship with my family and church family grew tighter and we pressed forward together with the help of our Heavenly Father.  Not only that but people were watching us and strangers came up to us to say that they would be praying for us.  God was touching lives through our hardship.  Not only was this so but God never let us go. He was with us and He is still with us every step of the way and He does give us strength.

I know that there's so much hurt in this world.  But I also know that God wants to walk you through whatever you are going through.  One of my favorite songs (I have countless favorites but I have always loved music.) is Through it All.

I’ve had many tears and sorrows,
I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
there’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong

Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all,

through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

I’ve been to lots of places,
I’ve seen a lot of faces,
there’s been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own

(chorus)

I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them
I’d never know what faith in God could do.
(Chorus)

I can testify to every word in this song.  It's so true that in our hardship we are strengthened through God's power in us.  However we have to depend upon God and His Word daily.  God doesn't force Himself upon us, He wants us to desire to come to Him and give Him our burdens.  God loves you!  Like a parent who comforts their child when they hurt, God comforts us. We are His children.  He created you and you are His most precious creation.  You can depend upon Him through it all.
You may not think you have anything to be thankful for this year, or maybe you are beyond thankful because you have had many blessings come your way, whatever your situation may be, know this, because of God's grace and everlasting love, He is all that you need.  No matter what.