Thankfulness in the Messiness

Life shares its ups and downs with many of us. Our days can be filled with joy and other days can be filled with pain. There are things we do understand and other things we do not understand, and there are some things we will never understand this side of heaven. 

I wish I could tell you the number of times I have shaken my head in disbelief over circumstances that have completely dumbfounded me. I wish I could have taken the pain from family, friends, and others who suffered losses, hardships, and even death of a loved one. There are not enough words to describe a broken heart, not to mention seeing gratitude in the pain. 

Yet, 1 Thessalonians 5: verses 16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Having a heart of gratitude or thankfulness is at the core of the Bible and in the life of a daughter of the Living King. It is an overflow of our response to the gospel. In Philippians 4:11-12, Paul explains to the church of Philippi that he had learned the secret of contentment. He had faced hunger as well as abundance, danger as well as safety, and need as well as satisfaction. Through every circumstance that he had faced, one thing remained the same – Paul’s thankfulness in All circumstances due to his love for Christ.

One of the benefits of having a thankful heart is that gratitude changes us and it also changes our vision. Instead of seeing life through the temporary sight of our limited human eyes, we can see through the holy lens of the gospel. And that, my friend, is the secret. That is why this is one of the most important lessons in our walk with Christ. Gratitude shields us from unforgiveness, bitterness, emptiness, and worthlessness. It gives us life when an illness hits us, it gives us hope when the world betrays us, and it gives us peace when our surroundings fall around us.

A grateful heart and the act of thanksgiving strengthens our worship too. The apostle Paul understood that thankful hearts are those that are, ready and able, to fully rejoice in the peace of Christ and praise of God. In other words. Our joy, prayers and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. 

Obeying these three commands to be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful often goes against our natural inclinations. When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, however, we will begin to see people in a new perspective. When we do God‘s will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.