Followby Brian Waple
“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us—and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.”—Thomas Merton
“We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.”—C. S. Lewis
As I listened to the various statements of thankfulness expressed this past Sunday, I found myself asking “What am I thankful for?” Am I thankful for my family, a job, my church, good health, a home? Of course I am. But on a deeper level, where have I been “grateful to recognize the love of God in everything,” or where have I been giving thanks even for bad fortune, “because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country”?
To be honest, I am barely thankful for the good things that happen, let alone the bad. When faced with challenging situations, it’s as though I have these blinders on that keep me focused on the problem at hand, rather than opening my field of vision to recognize where God might be working. With my lips I say, “God is in control,” but in my soul I’m saying, “God has let me down.” My heartfelt desire is to fully embrace the certainty that the love of God is in everything He gives me (good and bad), and to do that I have to ask myself questions such as “Where can I be thankful in this situation?” and “Where might God be using me in this situation?” And when I ask those questions, I am gently reminded to remove the blinders, surrender the situation to God, and take time to discern where and how He is working. And when I do that, I can see that in His gracious and loving mercy He is using the situation to create a redemptive work in me. And that is something I can be thankful for.
I want to express my sincere appreciation to all who spoke on Sunday. Your transparency and willingness to acknowledge your assurance in how God is working was truly a blessing. You are examples of what being thankful is all about. And for all of us, especially as we approach the Advent season, my prayer is that we would take time to reflect on what it is we are truly thankful for.
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