Being Thankful No Matter What the Circumstances Are
by Mark Hayes, President of Ministry
Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 117:1-2)
I recently attended the funeral of a family friend. The man’s wife died unexpectedly just before they were ready to retire together. After the funeral, he stood up and expressed words of thanksgiving like the words in Psalm 117.
He was thankful for his time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He appreciated all of the blessings God sent his way over the years.
I try to “count my blessings” like my mother taught me to do, and recognize how uncountable they truly are. But what struck me about this moment is that this man was praising the Lord and expressing thanks at a time when I would have been so deep in grief that thanksgiving might have eluded me. It’s easy to thank God when things are going well, but it is a challenge to thank him when trials come our way.
The older we get, the more we see that some of our more difficult seasons of life were the times that produced the most growth in our maturity and the strengthening of our faith. We wouldn’t have some of the blessings we have now if we hadn’t endured those struggles along the way.
Being thankful “in” all circumstances is not to say we are thankful “because of” the circumstances. Instead, we are thankful no matter what the circumstances are. God has a deeper, richer plan than what we can see unfolding in front of us now. Great is God’s love toward us. Praise the Lord.
A prayer of thanksgiving: Dear Father, you know things I couldn’t begin to understand, and you love me with a love that goes beyond my comprehension. Lead me to trust you in all things and to praise you in all situations. I look at the symbol of the cross and see evidence of the depth of your passion for me. With your help, I know that you always have my best interests in mind, and I can live a life of thanksgiving. In the name of Your Son, Amen.