Giving thanks is one part of life that holds big virtues. It may not be as always as saying a two word “Thank you”. Sometimes it can be the hardest thing to say. Being thankful brings lot of things into picture. It can simply mean we value it, be it people, things or situation. We may have learned to be thankful when our needs are met or when someone shows their care. But we can be thankful of things which often go unnoticed: the daily bread, shoes and clothes to wear, family, friends, education, job, little memorable moments, new morning, air we breathe, house, beautiful nature, music, good times, kindness, love, care, and more. For it is only when we lose any of these we will be on our knees crying for it. As some says, “We understand the value only when we lose it.” Sometimes, the importance is felt only in its absence.
There are many small things that have made our life and have gone unnoticed. Maybe, sometimes, it is just because we do not try to search it. Sometimes, we just do not see it. There is a line, “The fish never sees the water.” It can be the family we have or even the clothes we are wearing that we never learn to be thankful. But it is harder to say “Thank you” when the past do not allow us or the situation is too tough to be thankful for anything or it is just because they are enemies.
But being thankful can do lots of miracles. It is more than just a courtesy. It builds relations, takes away the coldness, brings appreciation that could be an encouragement, help us to value things and understand things better, and at times, it builds faith and we have a story to tell.
We can be thankful for the peoples in our lives, as Paul wrote in 1Timothy 1:2, “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” For the service God calls, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service,” 1 Timothy 1:12. For what God has blessed us, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God,” 2 Corinthians 9:11. For being saved in Christ, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!..,” Romans 7:24-25. And for every situation, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
But what reasons do we find to be thankful in times of pain and hurts? At times, being thankful is out of question. The line, “It is going to be alright”, has become a cliché. We are pressed from every corner and hope seems so far from us, and maybe life has tossed us without justice, love, and unfair means. So, what does it takes to say, “I shall not be in want,” when we are not walking beside quite waters or lying down in green pastures? In times as these, words are not comforting enough or gifts not pleasing enough until the person of Jesus Christ rest in our situation. Jesus said His yoke is light (Matthew 11:28-30) and His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). We have to come before God and rest our situation as Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” Philippians 4:6. God’s strength is strong enough to carry us through.
There will be times we do not understand the plan of God, as we are push from one level of situation to another. Joseph faced the same thing when he was sold by his brothers. And when he thought his hope was rising when he prospered at his master’s house, he was sent to prison. But he ended in a far better position and we are reminded of what Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28. We may not understand the situation but if we love the Lord we know that God is working our way out, in His own time. The road we are going through may just be a road to blessing.
Thus, it the knowing of the Lord that His hand is over our situation that by faith in Him we are able to say thanks to every circumstances, whether in pain or in sorrows. It is by faith we know that: God can move the mountains, do the impossible, restore the broken, heal the sick, makes a way where there seems to be no way. For, our God does not love enough if He would not have sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins, and He is not powerful enough if He would not have raised Jesus from the dead. God who is full of love understands what we are going through and is full of wisdom.
When Jesus becomes our shepherd: His joy becomes our strength, His grace becomes our rest, His wisdom becomes our hope and His power our victory. And we “Enter his gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4). If we only could look into the love of Christ, we will always be filled with thankfulness.
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106
There are many small things that have made our life and have gone unnoticed. Maybe, sometimes, it is just because we do not try to search it. Sometimes, we just do not see it. There is a line, “The fish never sees the water.” It can be the family we have or even the clothes we are wearing that we never learn to be thankful. But it is harder to say “Thank you” when the past do not allow us or the situation is too tough to be thankful for anything or it is just because they are enemies.
But being thankful can do lots of miracles. It is more than just a courtesy. It builds relations, takes away the coldness, brings appreciation that could be an encouragement, help us to value things and understand things better, and at times, it builds faith and we have a story to tell.
We can be thankful for the peoples in our lives, as Paul wrote in 1Timothy 1:2, “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” For the service God calls, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service,” 1 Timothy 1:12. For what God has blessed us, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God,” 2 Corinthians 9:11. For being saved in Christ, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!..,” Romans 7:24-25. And for every situation, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
But what reasons do we find to be thankful in times of pain and hurts? At times, being thankful is out of question. The line, “It is going to be alright”, has become a cliché. We are pressed from every corner and hope seems so far from us, and maybe life has tossed us without justice, love, and unfair means. So, what does it takes to say, “I shall not be in want,” when we are not walking beside quite waters or lying down in green pastures? In times as these, words are not comforting enough or gifts not pleasing enough until the person of Jesus Christ rest in our situation. Jesus said His yoke is light (Matthew 11:28-30) and His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). We have to come before God and rest our situation as Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” Philippians 4:6. God’s strength is strong enough to carry us through.
There will be times we do not understand the plan of God, as we are push from one level of situation to another. Joseph faced the same thing when he was sold by his brothers. And when he thought his hope was rising when he prospered at his master’s house, he was sent to prison. But he ended in a far better position and we are reminded of what Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” Romans 8:28. We may not understand the situation but if we love the Lord we know that God is working our way out, in His own time. The road we are going through may just be a road to blessing.
Thus, it the knowing of the Lord that His hand is over our situation that by faith in Him we are able to say thanks to every circumstances, whether in pain or in sorrows. It is by faith we know that: God can move the mountains, do the impossible, restore the broken, heal the sick, makes a way where there seems to be no way. For, our God does not love enough if He would not have sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins, and He is not powerful enough if He would not have raised Jesus from the dead. God who is full of love understands what we are going through and is full of wisdom.
When Jesus becomes our shepherd: His joy becomes our strength, His grace becomes our rest, His wisdom becomes our hope and His power our victory. And we “Enter his gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4). If we only could look into the love of Christ, we will always be filled with thankfulness.
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106
