Thanksgiving
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with expressing thanksgiving. I struggle with it more than I want to admit, or care to consider. I have a difficult time seeing the goodness and grace of God in the difficult times.
I was reading in a devotional recently, and came across these words:
‘Sing and make music in your heart to the LORD, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ -Ephesians 5:20
No matter what our situation, we (I) can give and must give thanksgiving to God always for all that He has blessed us with, all that He is doing, Who He is. I recently spoke with someone who is in his early 50s and who has suffered with multiple sclerosis for many, many years. This individual has had many MS flare-ups where their body just doesn’t function, legs won’t work, and the pain and recovery associated with this (at least for this individual) can be excruciating.
As I was talking with this individual, it occurred to me that they had a smile on their face. The smile was not forced, fake, or phony, but facilitated with ease and authenticity. I expressed my gratitude to this person for the encouragement they exhibited and expressed in my life, and only within a few moments over a short portion of time.
Isn’t it amazing? People who often are in a more difficult situation from you or I, can express thanksgiving through something as simple as a smile for the benefit and blessings of others, even in their own distress.
What about you? What about me? How are we doing with thanksgiving, are we always living in it, walking in it, and sharing it with others who may be struggling? I left the interaction with this individual thinking about how I have presented myself lately and was forced to face the truth about how I ‘show up’ for others.
Do I allow my situation to dictate my interactions? What is meant by this? What I am attempting to get at is this: Is my situation more important than meeting people (my wife, my children, my co-workers, people) where they are, in their needs and pain, struggles and joys? What takes priority for me? Is the answer “I am more important than meeting that person in their need…?”
Does my struggle take precedence, do I point to me, me, me or am I able to be invested in someone else and provide care and comfort to them regardless of my struggles?
How have I shown gratefulness in my situation? How have I shown thanksgiving to God during my own battles with PTSD, depression and other battles?
Look, PTSD is tough, no lie. Let me be real, I don’t enjoy intrusive thoughts, and night terrors, or not sleeping for more than a couple of hours a night, but yet sometimes I walk in the PTSD and claim it, I cherish the intrusive thoughts and night terrors to the point of receiving them as my identity.
Our past cannot dictate our worth.
Our past must not determine our identity.
Our present reality may be a distortion of what we allow to disrupt…
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What is your worth? we all have pain, struggles, intrusive throughs and yet it doesn’t equal what we are worth, or most importantly Who defines our worth, and Who died for us in our most dreadful state (Romans 5:8 says, God demonstrates His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us). Jesus says, in this world you will have tribulations, be of good cheer (good courage), I (Jesus) have overcome the world (see John 16:33).
Our world was disrupted by the love of God as demonstrated in Christ. We also must learn to be disrupted by His love and moved to thanksgiving no matter what we are facing, no matter the storm or battle. He is still on the throne. The apostle Paul reminds us, and me specifically today in these words:
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV).
It isn’t about me. It isn’t about you either. Just saying. Our afflictions, whatever they are, will pass, and must not ever be compared with the eternal weight of glory - which is everlasting. Our pain is temporary (for those in Christ). Are we looking at things that we see only with our physical eyes, or are we seeking the things of eternal value which cannot be seen at this time in this place? Do we understand how thankful we ought to be because we have been given another day, another opportunity to share the love of God with others? A dear friend of mine often reminds me by saying ‘go do what you do…’ is what I do - showing thanksgiving to others who are struggling deeper in things then I will ever know, or is it about me?
Are we thankful, are we capable to be people of thanksgiving to others in their pain and struggle? I am thankful for the breath of life God has given me today, I am learning to give thanksgiving in the struggle and disappointments (which is difficult but doable).
I began this blog with Ephesians 5:20, let me give you some insight, if I can, into what can and cannot exist in our lives as we give thanksgiving for everything:
depression cannot exist in our thanksgiving.
anxiety has to flee.
anger in thanksgiving is not a thing.
We are placed on the shelf when we are people of thanksgiving since we are focused on something greater, Someone Greater.
We can choose to live in thanksgiving. Even if we have to fake it until we make it. We can choose to speak the things which are not as if they are - and focus on Someone Greater - God! I must give thanksgiving to Jesus for my very life, my salvation and eternal destination no matter what my present sufferings look like.
Can you choose to give thanksgiving to God in this time and trial of your life? It will be a journey and a struggle many days, but keep your eyes fixed on the love of Christ and not the pain.
Gratitude - A Mental Health Game Changer | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA
I am here if you need me.