Happy Thanksgiving!
I know this day is rough for some. I get it. Really, I do. This is the first Thanksgiving without Dad, and there are some other issues going on that are keeping this day from being what it used to be—what I want it to be.
But no matter what our circumstances, we always have something to be thankful for.
The Bible has much to say about a thankful heart.
In Colossians 3, after instructing the people how treat one another—with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love (vv.12-14, NIV), Paul then states, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful,” (v. 15, NIV).
We see in this verse that peace and thanksgiving are strongly tied together.
Paul emphasizes thanksgiving again in v. 17:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
We should be thankful in whatever we do. This verse doesn’t say just be thankful sometimes. It suggests that we be thankful all the time.
We see thankfulness tied to peace again in Philippians 4:6-7:
“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” (NIV).
I have personally found this verse to be true any time anxiety has tried to push its way into my mind.
Thanksgiving is the key!
In the image above are the words of King David. David dreamed of building a temple for the Lord, but God told him no. It would be his son Solomon instead, meaning that David would never see his dream come to fruition. Instead of complaining, David thanked God, worked to gather supplies for the temple, and also donated from his personal savings. He then asked his people to do the same because he knew Solomon’s task would be great (1 Chronicles 29:1). After the people gave their offerings, David acknowledged that it had all come from the Lord, and then he said the words you read in the image above: “we give you thanks,” (v. 13).
Can you imagine how differently the story would have played out if David resented God’s response and had fallen into depression, feeling that his dream of building the temple himself had been crushed? Instead, he was thankful, and all Israel benefitted from it.
Friends, this Thanksgiving, I urge you to thank God, despite your circumstances. Look for the good (you’ll always find something), and praise his name. And thank him for how he’s working in the midst of your troubles, even if you can’t see or understand it. And when you do, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7)