Canadian Thanksgiving is coming up, a time when we are encouraged to express gratitude for God’s provision and blessings. It’s easy to give thanks when things turn out the way we hoped. But what about the things we did not ask for? What about prayers that seem unanswered, or circumstances we would never have chosen?
I’m not saying that we need to smile and delusionally rejoice at all the bad things we may experience in our lives, as a result of sin and living in a broken world. However, I am trying to challenge us to reflect more deeply on the diversity of “gifts” that God can present in our lives for our good and for his glory.
be thankful that we can completely trust in his good plans for us
Ever since I was a child, I’ve never had great health, and I’m still prone to fall ill fairly easily. For as long as I can remember, I always wished that I could be stronger and less weak. I’ve missed out on things, and wanted to be like everyone else, participating in things to the same extent as so many of my peers. But as I grow older, I’m starting to appreciate more and more how those experiences have come with their own blessings too. It’s protected me from things, helped me grow in caring less about what others think of me, and nurtured in my heart a deeper sense of empathy for struggles that may not be visible.
What about you? Are there things in your life that you find challenging, but can see how God has been using them to grow you to be more fruitful for his kingdom?
Even if we can’t fully comprehend why God has given us the gifts that he’s chosen to give, we can still be thankful that we can completely trust in his good plans for us. As it says in Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (29:11).
Some simple habits that can help us be more intentional in fostering a thankful heart include:
– Daily evening prayers that begin with at least 3 things to be thankful for from the day.
– Keeping a prayer journal and regularly looking back to see how God has answered your prayers (even those in unexpected ways).
– Having 1 or 2 close Christian friends that you meet up with regularly to help keep pointing each other to Jesus and his goodness through Bible-reading and prayer.
If you’re currently going through a very blessed season and find it very easy to give thanks to our Lord, praise God! But if you’re struggling to be thankful during a difficult season, let me still encourage you to pray and ask God to help you see his goodness in this time of need.
