Devotionals

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"giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." --Ephesians 5:20

“What are you thankful for, Michael?” asked Dad, scooping some more mashed potatoes onto his plate.

“For this food!” eight-year-old Michael replied with his mouth full.

“For my toys!” quipped 5-year- old Lisa.

“That we’re all together,” said Mom, smiling through shining eyes.

“And I’m thankful for my beautiful wife!” replied Father proudly.

What a perfect picture of family bliss! No wonder everyone in that family is so thankful—everything is going perfectly: The kids are happy and healthy, the parents are gaga over each other, and the turkey is delicious.
Anyone can be thankful when things are going well. Yet the Bible doesn’t say to be thankful only during these times. In the above verse, we are admonished to be thankful in all things. No exception is given for difficult or unpleasant things.

Let’s consider another verse that talks about all things: Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Whether we are in a time of trial or of rest, we know it is all going to end well, thus we have reason to thank God.

Romans 5:3-4 takes this truth even farther by demonstrating how we can be thankful for the trials themselves: "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." While trials are unpleasant for a moment, the end result is hope. God has a way of taking the very situations that would rob our hope, and turning them around to fill us with much more. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." –2 Cor. 4:17-18

I know these scriptures work, because God used them to lift me out of the pit of despair. I have experienced such heartbreak in the past two years, that only God could have pulled me through. He used these scriptures to do it. He constantly reminded me that the fiery trials I was facing were temporary, telling me that their purpose was not to burn me, but to refine me. I experienced the nearness of His presence like never before, as He revealed Himself to me as my Comforter. No human could have consoled me at this time.

This year, I will be celebrating the holidays alone with my children for the first time. Yet I have no sadness over this fact, because the Lord has so restored my hope and joy. I would not have chosen this, but I am better off today because of the hope I now have—hope that resulted from the sorrow. The world around me can fall apart, but God is my hope, and He is always stable. I am thankful for the trials because through them I have learned to put my hope into the one place where it is safe—in God.

Whatever your difficulties are this holiday season, I challenge you to look to the One we celebrate, and offer as much thanks as you can muster. He will accept your gift. He will bring joy where there is hurt and pain, and the joy of the Lord will be your strength. He will bring peace where there is chaos, for Jesus is the Prince of peace. He will bring hope where all hope is gone, for He is the God who brings beauty out of ashes.

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