Psalm 92:1, “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High”
__________
Have you ever found yourself staring at the words Thanksgiving Day on the calendar and wondering what in the world you have to be thankful for? It could happen if a job loss makes you wonder how you'll ever get enough money to survive. Or if you have recently heard nothing but bad news from the doctor. Or if someone you had entrusted with your heart has broken it and run away. The reasons we may find it hard to give thanks are as many as the troubles that strike us each day. Difficulties don't pause for a Thanksgiving break. However, there is a way to find reasons to be thankful during even the darkest episodes of life. When the curtain of struggles seems to block out all joy, we can choose to be thankful. One way is to look into the Scriptures to see all the things we have to be thankful for, which have nothing to do with circumstances.
Despite our trials, we can give thanks for God's unfailing goodness (Psalm 106:1); for God's holy name (Psalm 30:4); for deliverance from sin (Romans 7:24-25); for victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:56, 57); for God's nearness (Hebrews 13:5). Another way is to look toward some of the old hymns which speak about thankfulness. I would like to share with you this Thanksgiving Season a song written by August Ludwig Storm (1862-1914). When he wrote this hymn he was only 29 years old and working with the Salvation Army when he considered all the things for which we should be thankful. It’s easy to thank God for the beauty of the earth, for friends and for blessings in our lives, but Storm also remembered that we should also be thankful for the pain and sorrow in our lives. These are the things that make us strong in the Lord and will lead to true joy. He found 24 things for which to be thankful and wrote them down in the below hymn entitled:
Thanks to God for My Redeemer
Thanks to God for my redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory, Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace with my soul!
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!
Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity!
__________
Concluding thoughts:
If we pause to think about the abundance God has showered on us, we will discover many reasons to express our gratitude to Him. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to take God's goodness for granted. For example, most of us have food, clothing, and shelter. Yet in some parts of the world, even in highly developed countries, many people fight hunger, poverty, and homelessness. God in His goodness keeps on blessing us with an abundance far beyond what we need or deserve. In addition to our material blessings, we as Christians receive so many spiritual blessings. Psalm 103:2 tells us, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits”. My friend and brethren, today and each day, let’s take the time to thank, praise and glorify God for all His blessings to us, lest we become unthankful.
Wishing each one at this forum a very blessed and heartfelt “Thanksgiving” as you celebrate this special day with friends and loved ones.
