Dad and I went to Wal-Mart together. I don't even remember the reason for trip or what we bought while we were there. What I do remember is that we got a great parking spot. It would be a short walk to get into the store. As we pulled into the spot I thanked the Lord for getting to park so closely. I don't know if he was testing me, or what he was thinking, but he looked over at me with a smile and said, "Robin, what would you say if we didn't get a good parking spot?"
I smiled back, "Well then I would thank God for giving me legs to be able to walk into the store."
Dad laughed. "Very good," he said.
Thanksgiving is not just an emotion. It isn't just a happy feeling when something good happens. Of course it is certainly a part of it. We should definitely find joy in the good things God gives us in our lives.
But that isn't all of it and maybe that is what Dad was getting at. Giving thanks to our God is so much more than that. For one thing, it is a command. Maybe sometimes we don't think of it like that but it is.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV). These verses are pretty clear. They leave no room for misunderstanding.
"Give thanks in all circumstances..." Wow -- think about that phrase for just a moment. 'All circumstances' does not mean we say 'thank you' only when we feel like it. God did not say -'please remember me when something good happens in your life.' He certainly did not say - we can skip out on being grateful on those very ordinary days. He said in ALL circumstances. That leaves nothing out.
Being thankful is not always easy - mainly because as humans we are easily distracted. Sometimes we are just careless and forget. We go about our busy days and never think of counting our blessings.
We often let petty annoyances cloud our minds and affect our attitudes. Negativity and doubt are certainly deterrents in developing a grateful heart. It is easy to complain when something goes wrong.
A few years ago in another conversation with Dad, I complained about the car trouble I had experienced. He reminded me I should be thankful I had the money to get the repairs done.
Being thankful has a lot to do with how we frame our thoughts. It should be an elemental part of our Christian life. Christianity involves retraining or renewing our minds. Colossians 3:10 tells us we put on the new self and we are being 'renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.'
In the verses following the inspired Paul talks about things we are to 'put on' as Christians. He mentions thanksgiving three times. It is rather lengthy but consider Colossians 3:15-17:
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
To 'rejoice always' is not easy either. That is another thing we don't always think of as a command. Maybe that is one reason 'pray without ceasing' is sandwiched between these two verses. Prayer is the glue between rejoicing and being thankful.
So much is packed into these three short verses. For those seeking to live a godly life they are powerful. Joy, prayer and thanksgiving are woven tightly together.
Still how difficult is it to be thankful when you are at a low point in your life? How can you rejoice when you are going through a painful divorce? How can we be thankful after losing a loved one?
Sometimes life brings such sorrow and pain we don't think we can go another minute let alone another hour or day. We all go through deep dark valleys and we feel small, lost and alone. During those times how can we read these verses and follow these commands?
I don't presume to be able to answer that question. But I do know what the apostles did after being beaten for preaching Christ. They "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name (of Jesus)" (Acts 5:41). And I know what Paul and Silas did after being beaten and put into stocks. They prayed and sang hymns to God while the other prisoners listened (Acts 16).
I imagine in both situations the rejoicing included thanksgiving, don't you? The two are so closely related to one another. Paul rejoiced even in the torment and affliction he suffered for Christ and often reminded us to be thankful.
In fact Paul uses the words thanks, thankful, thankfulness and thanksgiving about 50 times in the 13 letters he wrote.
I know it is difficult to give thanks when the storms of life are raging. The thing is even in those times we can find things to be grateful for -- we just have to make ourselves see that. And yes, I know it is much easier said than done.
It takes the kind of endurance both Peter and Paul speak of in their writings.
So what do we have to be thankful for when we seem to be at the end of the rope for whatever reason?
1. It is temporary. "For this light momentary is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17) If we hang on there is a life of glory awaiting us.
2. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us - Romans 8:26.
3. For those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28
4. Christ Jesus - the One who conquered death also intercedes for us. Nothing we face-nothing can separate us from His love. verses 34-36
5. We are more than conquerors through Him. verse 37
These are only a few things to be thankful for. We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7).
My favorite may be this:
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
This friends, is something we can always be thankful for!
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
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