In 3 days it will be thanksgiving a time of year that is greatly anticipated by many. It is a time where travel is expected to more than double as most families come together around a great feast of turkey, stuffing, ham, greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin and sweet potato pies and so… much more. No one will be watching calories on Thanksgiving Day; the gym will take care of the extra pounds gained. Although it is known as Thanksgiving Day, some of us will forget to give thanks, others will only give thanks if they had a successful year and others will focus on the bad things that may have happened to them and cannot bring themselves to give thanks. Each of us knows in which category we fall. We can all justify giving or not giving thanks, but does our reasoning fits into what the bible says about giving thanks? Let us look at what Ephesians 5: 20 say about giving thanks: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Is Paul really serious about this? It is just impossible to give thanks all the time, and worse yet giving thanks for all things. Paul you don’t know what I have been through this year, there is no way I can give thanks for those things. Really Paul, you can say what you want, but one thing I know is that only “he who feels it knows it”. I lost my child- wait my children – Paul they represented my future, I lost my sibling -my present, I lost my parent-my past, I lost my spouse- my everything. Did you hear me Paul? I lost my home, my job; I just went through a horrible divorce, I just lost my baby at term. Paul, do you want to hear more? My child was incarcerated, my finances took a dive, I just went through hurricane Sandy and I lost everything I possessed. Give thanks always and for all things- you have got to be kidding? What was that you said Paul, II Corinthians 11:23-27?
Whoa Paul this is unbelievable! You have certainly been through a whole lot and after all this you can still say “give thanks”. I guess I’ll reconsider my position.
As the word says we should give thanks at all times and not just at Thanksgiving and we give thanks for everything not just the good things. This certainly is not easy to do, but we should do so regardless of the position we find ourselves in. It sounds superficial- but things could have been much worse. God does not do bad things to us, but will turn around the bad things that happen to us for His glory. The things God allows in our lives are things that He knows we are able to manage and the good thing is that there is on Satan cannot cross over.
So whatever we may be going through at this time, let us remember that our father who loves us with an everlasting love will give us the grace to endure and though it feels like it will, it will not take us out. Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
So even if you do it in tears let us open our mouths and Give God thanks, that He is sovereign, faithful, omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent and He can and will turn our situation completely around. Happy Thanksgiving!
In His Service,
Vilma
