“Happy Thanksgiving!”

We say it to our friends, everybody says it! Right? It’s what you say in late November, and we can easily think of reasons to be thankful. Salvation, spouse, children, extended family, health, freedom, etc. Most of us are blessed beyond measure and can come up with a list fairly quickly.

Sometimes our list doesn’t touch some pretty significant aspects of our lives. For example, are you going through a hard time financially?  Mourning the loss of a loved one?  Unemployed?  Reeling from a life-changing diagnosis? Has an illness touched your family?  What about a difficult child? Juggling doctor bills - electric bills and paying for repairs on the car? Going through a dry spell spiritually?  Did any of these make your list?  Probably not!  But here’s the hard truth: They should.  Sometimes “Thanksgiving,” is not always happy.  However - the Scriptures command us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

Psalm 50:14 says; “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving.” Do you see that?  Sometimes, it’s a sacrifice to be thankful. 

There are situations for which I don’t feel thankful. They’re hard, they’re stressful, and frankly, I can’t wait until they’re over.  Sometimes God brings heartbreak in our lives, times when it hurts to breathe. So, we have to believe in these times that God will keep His promises. To have faith…and beg for the faith we lack, to believe He is who He says and will do what He says. To believe the hard things in our lives are not being wasted. That He is using them to make us more like Jesus. That He isn’t finished, and His love never gives up. 

I write this because it’s been the whisper of the Spirit to me recently. So, I share my challenge with you: This Thanksgiving, go beyond the usual blessings when you’re making your list. Think about the places in your heart that are hurt, confused, or scared. Think about the hole in your heart where He has said “No.”  Think about what you’ve lost, how you’ve struggled, how your desires have been frustrated. Then, “give thanks in all circumstances.” Instead of offering up only the thanks that are easy to give, offer a sacrifice that costs. Offer thanks for those heartaches.  Bring Him a broken and contrite spirit (Psalm 51:17), giving a sacrifice of thanksgiving in your hurts, whether you feel thankful or not.  No, thanksgiving isn’t always happy.  But it is always right and good for the soul.

Tom