Encouragement

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DAYS OF DISCOURAGEMENT
DAYS OF THANKSGIVING

By Chuck Johnson

If you are like most of us, you have probably had days you were discouraged. Perhaps you had worked hard on a project for school or work and the response to it was less than you expected given all of the time and hard work. Maybe, you didn’t get the job, or promotion you were really counting on. You worked hard to prepare a wonderful meal for your family, and got not one compliment from them. Or how about this one, you have been dieting and exercising, and yet the scale and the mirror don’t reflect (no pun intended) the changes you were expecting. I could go on and on, but you get the point. Life is full of disappointment and discouragements.


Just as real as the discouragements we all face, are the days where things go right and we give God the praise, and thanksgiving, He so rightly deserves. You got the promotion, or that new job. You were selected as a starter on the team, or made the debate team. A sick loved one got better, in answer to prayer, or better yet an unsaved loved one met and accepted the Savior. These are all events deserving of our praise, and in these circumstances it is easy to break out in praise and thanksgiving. But, are we not instructed to give thanks in all things, at all times?


God’s word is very clear in regards to this, in Ephesians chapter 5, verse 20 we read “giving thanks always for all things to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”, and “ …but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (PHILIPPIANS 4:6), “in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God…” (1THESALONIANS 5:18) (emphasis added) There is a pattern here, and simply put praise and thanksgiving are not predicated on feelings or outcome. Thanksgiving in all circumstances is a willful and obedient act, in direct response to the will of God. God does not command us to do anything, that with His help we do not have the ability to do. We are told “…let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (HEBREWS13:15) What is the “sacrifice” of praise, isn’t a sacrifice something you give up? Old Testament sacrifice, meant giving your first fruits, the very best of your increase to God. Sacrifice in this context also means to give up something. It means to give up our natural, human reaction to the situation. It means to praise when you don’t feel like giving praise, it may be painful and hard at first, but it will eventually bring a release if you faint not. To praise under difficult circumstances then, must be a determined action, rather than an emotional reaction. Emotions are a very real part of our lives, however, they are not necessarily, nor should they be, the basis for all decisions. We are made in God’s image, so we know that emotions are a part of our make up, but so are logic and reason. God didn’t get all emotional, and out of that response say let Us make man in Our image. Jesus said “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” now this wasn’t an emotional response, this was a very logical and reasonable response. We are instructed in all things to give praise. All means all.


But, why should I be thankful, I just lost my job? Or what have I to give thanks for, my spouse just left me, or they repossessed my car, or the bank is foreclosing on my house. These are all legitimate concerns, and they are not to be taken lightly. However, how should we react? Are we to get angry and bitter? Should we quit trusting God? Allow me to retell a story and paint a picture for you, if I may. There was a very successful and wealthy landowner. This man had a reputation in the community of being honest and trustworthy. He was a Godly man, well respected among his peers, he had a large family, was a very successful farmer, in fact he had one of the largest farms in the country. One day as he was going about his business, one of his trusted servants came running up to tell him that rustlers had taken all of his cattle, before he could react another servant came to tell him that a terrible fire had consumed his entire flock of sheep. This mans day was not looking good, and yet it was not over, before he was able to begin to comprehend the loss of his wealth, another servant came to tell him that a tornado had struck the home of one of his children, and that all of his other children had been celebrating in the same place, and all had been killed. This man had not only lost his prosperity, but, he had lost his posterity, things couldn’t get any worse. Or could they? This man was a picture of health, and yet before his children were cold in their graves, he was struck with a malady, that covered his body from head to toe with painful boils. His wife told him his life was no longer worth living, his friends who once extolled his integrity were now pointing fingers in judgment, and all hope seemed gone. This of course is the story of the patriarch Job. You can read the account in Job 1:13 through chapter 8. Nothing was going right for Job. He had every reason to be bitter, every reason that is, except one. Job realized that every good and perfect gift was from God. Job after all of his suffering, and before his restoration declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…”.


As bad as things may be in your life, can you say with all honesty, that your trials come anywhere close to what Job experienced? In all probability your answer is no. In that case, can you with Job continue to trust in God, in spite of your circumstances? If the answer is yes, then you can continue to live, with a joyful anticipation of deliverance and blessing. If the answer is no, then you need to contemplate your relationship with God the Father. We are admonished by Jesus in John 16:33 “…In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer…”. (emphasis added) Jesus didn’t say you might have tribulation, He said you will have tribulation, He didn’t say you were to moan and groan ‘woe is me’, He said to be of good cheer. You do not have control over the schemes of the enemy; however, you do have control over your response to those attacks. You can get angry and be bitter towards God, or you can give thanks in all circumstances, and then kick the devils tail, using the sword of the spirit and resisting the urge to throw in the towel.

David also knew what trials and tribulation were all about, he was mocked by his own brothers, belittled by a giant, hunted by a king, committed adultery, and then conspired to have an innocent man murdered. Join in the chorus with David the Psalmist as he proclaims “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” (PSALM 30:11-12). David’s acknowledgement of who God was is very important. First he acknowledged his creator as his Lord. To quote Webster’s dictionary, lord means, “a… ruler by preeminence to whom service and obedience are due”. And David also acknowledged Him as God. Webster’s dictionary defines God as “the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness, whom men worship as creator and ruler of the universe”.


Give thanks at all times, especially when it isn’t convenient, or when it doesn’t make since. Wallowing in self-pity will only bring more grief, giving praise and thanksgiving on the other hand, will bring deliverance and restoration. How long the restoration takes is dependent upon how long it takes you to bring forth praise to the Lord your God. Can and will you along with David, acknowledge the Lord God, as the sovereign over your life? This will determine the ultimate outcome of your particular situation.

Do you want to really mess with the devil’s head? Then react contrary to his expectation, give praise and thanksgiving, when in the natural, to do so seems ludicrous. In so doing, not only will you find deliverance, but you will show your trust in the Lord God, your heavenly father!

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