Tendering Thanks in Tough Times

We are told in 1 Thess 5 to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

But will life always be good? Experience says not. We will all have to deal with loss at some time. Should we be thankful for that? How?

I struggle with this time of year. My extended family is on other continents. It is getting cold and dark, which is tough for a creature born and raised in the tropics. Forced gaiety and commercialized “xmas” rubs me the wrong way. Thanksgiving? Big woop. But it says we have to “give thanks in all circumstances.”

Typical culture is thankful for health, wealth, comfort and being an American. What if they go away (not unlikely in this economic time). 2.5 Trillion $ evaporated? Including many pensions. Are those American families thankful? They should be.

How do we do that, fake it? No; by considering what we are thankful for. Look at prayers of thanks in the new testament.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

Or “Thanks that I am middle class, mid western, and covered the mortgage this month. Thanks that I am not like them ‘durn furiners’.” This prayer did not sit well with Jesus. This complacency breeds contempt, leading to unloving (and so sinful) prejudice. The Bible does not promise the American dream.

1 Cor. 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

So it is not about stuff, or who we are, but about grace.

But it hurts! My life is still tough! I heard a sermon recently that said “Our troubles are designed specifically for us.” Habakkuk 3:17-18 celebrates God’s glory in the face of starvation – because it was worth it!

Why? It is what we are made for – to glorify God. Always. Look at the story of Lazarus. Why was he allowed to die? “… for the glory of God." (John 11:4.) So we are best fulfilled if we do what you were designed to do.

So we are thankful. For the blessings we have: grace, life, salvation and a relationship with the creator. The stuff like abundant food, family nearby, warm beds – those are icing on the cake.