Today's Word 🌱

 

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

- 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Have you ever heard someone testify of a smooth road, paved with the blessings of everything in their life aligning at the expected place and time, someone who has need of nothing, and door after door was opened for them where they found favour and advancement, and they attribute it as evidence of the goodness of God in their life? Perhaps you might be such a person too. No one can fault such a person for giving God all the praise and honour and glory, because He makes all things possible. Sometimes, another believer may be looking on and listening however, and comparing their road to this person's. It is after all, natural and human, to wonder: "God, aren't you with me too? Why aren't things working out like clockwork for me too? Does this mean that You aren't with me? Does this mean that You don't favour me too? When am I going to have things that I can be thankful for too?"

Tonight, I would like for us to ponder: "Is it that only smooth paved and fast roads are evidence of God's presence with us? Is it only when things go the way we want in our lives that we have a reason to be thankful to God and testify? According to the Bible, the answer is No. Everyone's road is different, everyone's struggle is different, everyone's purpose is different. In fact, God's track record with many of His greatest servants in the Bible such as Joseph, Moses, Job, John the Baptist, Daniel, and even Jesus, show a path coloured by rejection, loss, sorrow, betrayal, envy, persecution, deprivation, isolation, etc. In the grand scheme of things, at the end of their story looking back, we can truly conclude that God was with them, but if we were to walk their road with them, one would have never imagined the end results, the way how God's purpose was at work through everything. "All things truly do work together for good, to them that love the Lord and have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). And that my friends, is something to be thankful about!

This past week, the holiday of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the USA. Persons worldwide around this time tend to seize the opportunity to also exercise thankfulness in their personal lives. And while it is easy to be thankful for all the nice and positive things that are evident in our lives, today I want to encourage us to take a look at the not so great things too, and see how we can be thankful for these things. Difficult, yes I know, but Job in the Bible presents to us an excellent example of how one can have nothing seemingly go their way after having gotten accustomed to everything go his way, and still find a reason to give God praise and thanks. Job lost everything he worked for and held dear and near to him. He didn't wait until the end of his life when everything was restored, but rather while he was languishing in grief and poverty: 

‘.... Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship, and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ (Job 1: 20-21)

It is possible, despite the odds, to find a reason to give thanks. Have you noticed that grief and loss makes us more empathetic to those who are grieving and hurting? Hunger and having nothing makes us more compassionate in relieving the plight of those in need. Being in a position where all we have is God, strengthens our trust and faith in Him and His ability to be everything for us. Pain, betrayal, loss, isolation, all give us a taste of the sorrows of Jesus' life, help us to understand and relate to Him more, and bring us closer to Him, seeing sin and its effects for what it really is. "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

As you may have figured out by now, this Thanksgiving message is not necessarily for those who have the usual obvious things that anyone can easily be thankful for. This message is for those who are struggling to feel thankful in a season of thankfulness. Our Father in heaven has foreseen these difficult circumstances that tend to dampen the fire of the sacrifice of our praise, and He has placed encouragements just for us in times like this, encouragements that give us a reason to be thankful.

• Grief over Death : He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4) 

• Obstacles, Rejection : "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)

• Persecution for the sake of Christ : "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:12)

• Periods of Poverty/ Jobless-ness/ Alone-ness : "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12-13)

• Illness, Impediments, Struggles with sin: "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10)

This season of thanksgiving, in our laments, our struggles, our temptations, our difficulties, let us give Him praise and thanks, just as much as in the good times, even if we have to do it quietly and reflectively. We do not see the bigger picture, but we can be thankful that God knows exactly what He is doing, and we can trust Him to show Himself up at the end of our road as we look back and see His work through it all, and coming to the realization that we can truly trust His heart, even when we cannot trace His hands.

Prayer:

Father, a big Thank You for the way that there is always something we can find to be thankful for, when we see things through Your eyes. Forgive us for the many missed opportunities where we could have experienced the peace of trust and joy in You through our difficult moments, but we renew our prayer to You Lord even now, open our eyes, our hearts and our minds, to adopt an attitude of gratitude and not compare ourselves to others so much. Increase our faith and contentment in You always, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Be blessed by the song below. This reminds us that it is the God of blessings, and not the blessings themselves who is our true reason for our praise.🎧🙏🏼

Trust His Heart (Babbie Mason)