Thankfulness

And in that day you will say: “ Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted.-Isaiah 12:4

¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.-Colossians 3:14-17

Thankfulness: what does this mean?

thank·ful [thángkfəl] adj

1.  feeling gratitude: feeling or expressing gratitude

2.  glad about something: glad or relieved about something 

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

To be depressed, one need only turn on the evening news. Crime rates are high, natural disasters are claiming more and more lives, healthcare costs, terrorism continues to expand, the economy is shot, unemployment appears to be here to stay; it goes on and on.

“What have I got to be thankful for” you might ask?

God!

That’s right, God!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. –John 3:16

This one verse alone should be enough to cause us to break out in praise and thankfulness. It is a promise of hope and deliverance for every weary soul if they will receive it.
“That’s fine” you might say, “but my life is a shambles right now. I need a break. How long can God expect me to endure?”  

²² Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. ²³ And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. ²⁴ Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.   
²⁵ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. –Acts 16:22-25

³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” ³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” –Matthew 26:38-39

 

There are numerous passages throughout the scriptures that tell of men and women, and even Jesus, going through difficult times. I don’t think one of them liked it at the time, but that is not my point.

My point is this, "don’t look at this temporary affliction as being forever; It is but for a time. Focus on the end result."

Had Jesus not gone to the cross, we would have much in deed to grieve over.

But praise God, we have a future beyond our wildest dreams. These brief times of distress refine us so that our future is even brighter. The Father uses pain to draw us to Himself. Many of us would be crawling along the shaky ledge but for the goodness of God who let us fall that He might raise us up and deliver us.

As much as I have grieved through the pain I have endured, I would not trade what I have learned. When this life on earth is over for me, I will never ask “why Lord?”  I will say with heartfelt gratitude, “Thank You!”

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. –Psalm 107:1