Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker.
We all hit life’s unexpected potholes. The issue, then, is how we will respond to these inevitable and unavoidable moments. When we discover the secret of a heart of gratitude, we can face these moments with grace, strength, and even what seems impossible joy. Joy and thankfulness go hand in hand.
In 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 18 Paul exhorts the believers to offer thanks to God “in all circumstances,” not simply when they were recipients of some good from God. Here the call is thanksgiving in the midst of every situation, however good or adverse it may be. Paul says to give thanks IN (not for – the preposition here is important) circumstance.
This practice sends us on a hunt for God’s goodness right in the middle of life—in the ease or the difficulty. Gratitude shifts our gaze and strengthens our walk with God. We will be the beneficiaries of thankful lives.
In Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts, she says that the discipline of gratitude only comes with practice. And thankfulness builds trust with God. One of the practices she encourages is to keep a gratitude journal, writing something down every day for which you are thankful. When we focus on the goodness of God in our lives, our roots grow deep and or faith grows stronger.
Gratitude helps us to still hold our hard things yet keep our eyes open to the beautiful things still unfolding around us. God holds us in the hard and still calls us toward beauty. We do not have to pretend the hard things do not exist; instead we keep our eyes open to where the light is shining. Because it is always shining.
When my son Alexander died, and I was holding this very hard thing, there was still much to be thankful for, where beauty was shining through:
Alexander’s friends, who were like brothers, wanted to hang out with us for weeks after his death—it was like having small pieces of him still with us.
So many teens at the high school told us of how Alexander was present for them—he really saw them.
Some of his friends took on the big brother role for Maggie, coming to our house to watch movies with her, play games, etc.
Emily was voted Homecoming Queen at her college’s homecoming a week after Alexander’s death.
We celebrated Alexander’s 18th birthday, with cake and ice cream and much laughter.
I could go on. . .
My point is that as I gave thanks for these blessings, big and small, even in the hardness of grief, my gaze refocused from looking at all that I had lost to seeing how God continued to show me that the light was shining, and it continues to shine in my beautiful family and friends. I encourage you to practice gratitude every day.
At the end of verse 18, Paul says joy, prayer and thanksgiving are what God has called these Christians to “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” for those in a relationship with Jesus. These are not optional, secondary characteristics of the Christian’s existence, but stand at the center of God’s plan, His will for His people in Christ Jesus.
Seeking joy, praying continually and looking for God’s goodness in everything are choices, choices that God wants for us as His children.
So I ask you this morning:
- Where are the places you look for joy? Are these places your circumstances, your bank account, your job, your family, your ______ (you fill in the blank)? If you’re not seeking your joy in Jesus, true joy will escape you.
- What does your conversation with God look like? Do you only talk with Him at certain times, places, or in certain circumstances, or do you see prayer as an ongoing conversation with your Best Friend?
- Do you have a heart of gratitude? How can you incorporate thankfulness as a regular part of your life?
May our lives be filled with joy, prayer, and gratitude, and may we be the fragrance of Christ to the world around us because of the joy and gratitude that mark our lives.
Photo by Miguel Bautista on Unsplash
Engaging Scripture 