Thanksgiving....

It is not always easy to feel thankful.  The journey of a human through life is not only joyful, it is also filled with dark times and hard places.  Things don't work out, trials are endured, tragedy strikes.  We all have those moments where we are overwhelmed by something we must face, and it feels lonely and negative.

It is hard to summon up the gratitude at those times.  We wouldn't be human if there weren't resentment, fear, anger, hopelessness, or plain old fashioned unhappiness when things don't go the way we hope.

But God has asked us to give thanks in all things.  He did not specify that we should be thankful for the good times, the enjoyable moments, the fun parts of being human.  On the contrary, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 he has commanded us to

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

As I was thinking about this, it seems troubling at first.  I don't want to be thankful for the bad things that happen to people I love, and it is hard to understand why a loving God would want that from me.

But, I did a little research, and was surprised to learn that the root words for thanks in this particular passage are actually grace and joy.  When thought about in that context, not necessarily being glad about the trial, but rather being grateful for the opportunity of ultimate grace and joyful for the healing presence of God in our lives, it becomes easier to understand and accept what God is asking of us.

Jesus endured human suffering, and he understands our pain and our sorrows all too well.  Because he was once human, and because he has endured the ultimate sacrifice for us, we are now given undeserved grace.  How can we fail to be thankful for a God who is always present, and who has already given us everything?

Christians live our their lives on two separate planes, one sacred and one secular.  We feel the same pressures of the world as anyone else, and our lives are filled with the same tragedies.  How we approach those events that we wish would not come into our lives is a reflection of the faith we have in God's grace and the joy we feel in sharing God's unending love.

We will likely never know the reasons for much of what happens throughout our lives.  Good or bad, life is filled with arbitrary moments.  But armed with the joy of God's grace, we can give thanks at all times for the sacrifice God has made for us.

Wishing you God's peaceful grace this weekend.  Give thanks for everything.  God's plan  has already accounted for this moment, and God's extravagant grace will see you through.