Thanksgiving is this week and I’m sketching out a Thanksgiving message to share with you, my readers. But, I feel conflicted. I need a Thanksgiving reset.
My husband is six months into a baffling condition that has put him on disability. In addition to his care, I am the full-time caretaker of my severely handicapped brother. Each day ends with a feeling that I didn’t measure up because I didn’t keep up with all the things that need attention.
Beyond my walls, a ten-minute dip into the news bombards me with one tragic event after another.
Locally, an elderly man was stabbed in front of a store, minutes from my house.
Nationally, the news abounds with reports on political corruption, rampant crime, and acts of hate on people whose skin color, background, or opinions differ.
Then, from halfway across the world, images of terrorist brutality assault my senses. My mind reels. How can evil be so evil? Before I can recover, the next segment of news describes the most recent cataclysmic weather event, complete with heart-wrenching video and damage that boggles the mind.
Add that up and it equals despair and depression.
It’s hard to be thankful in these troubled times.
The Mess is Real
A serious dive into Scripture makes it clear that while abundant life is the heritage of Christians, that life is not all rainbows and butterflies. Until Jesus returns, the default setting of this world is S I N and its many companions: disease, hate, greed, selfishness, pride. The list is long and represents all the consequences of a world rebellious to God.
So where do we find the light, the joy, in all this darkness?
The Source of Abundant Life
As believers in Christ, our source of peace and joy come from his work on the cross. In his crucifixion, Jesus took the brokenness of the world upon himself and, through his resurrection, transformed it to something exceedingly glorious–our redemption. Christ provided the gateway for our sins to be forgiven and for us to receive a new identity as his sons and daughters.
Jesus is more magnificent because of his scars. He knows temptation. He experienced suffering beyond any man. His suffering bought our redemption. He alone births joy from pain.
Our hope goes beyond wishful thinking because it is based on a person—Jesus—our Living Hope. Knowing that Jesus can transform our scars into something beautiful gives us reason to hope and cause to be grateful.
How To Be Thankful When You Don’t Feel Thankful
While seated around the Thanksgiving table, we may express thanks by sharing one or more blessings we’ve experienced in the past year. When life is going smoothly, it’s easy to recognize and celebrate the goodness. But when pain or troubles weigh us down, the struggle may leave us empty and defeated. We don’t feel thankful.
In troubled times, gratitude looks different. What pushes us into the arms of the Savior may uncover deep and boundless blessings—joys that won’t waver with life’s changing circumstances.
Thanksgiving is a decision, a perspective, a heart attitude. So, whether times are good or bad, we can be thankful even if we don’t feel thankful. We can lean into God’s character with the confidence that he will ultimately transform the pain and suffering in and around us for our good and for his glory.
For that is the way of Jesus. He who supremely suffered and overcame sin and death comes alongside us to bear the weight of our pain, shepherd us through it, and miraculously transform it into greater faith and passion for him. He is our Thanksgiving reset.
Your Turn
When you are impacted by adversity or suffering, do you tend to judge God by the circumstances, or do you view the circumstances through what Scripture has said about God’s love and character?
Recommended Reading
1000 GIfts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
Where is God? by Cheryl Liberatore
Links to Scripture References:
Romans 8:28, Colossians 1:16-17, Psalm 33:11, Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 40:28, Psalm 139, Isaiah 55:11, John 14:16-17, 1 Peter 5:10, Psalm 34:18, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 John 4:18, Romans 5:3-5, Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:38-39, 1 John 5:4, John 16:33
