November 2020
David Hixon • November 16, 2020
Thankful?
Thankful? Definition: feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative. It sure seems difficult in 2020 to be thankful. I think it’s easier to be anxious than it is to be thankful. Who isn’t a little anxious right now? Anxious about the election that keeps on going? Anxious about COVID and will it never end? I know we are anxious about groups being able to come back to Jamaica. We are a little anxious about finances and money for our personal expenses and for the home. The list could go on and on for all of us. Ultimately it does go back to trusting God.
I always wonder why we aren’t thankful every single day. When times get tough it is more difficult to truly appreciate all that God has done for us. I am thankful that we have Thanksgiving. We need to be reminded of just how important it is to be thankful. We are reminded to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Billy Graham said, “Thanksgiving—the giving of thanks—to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ. We must not allow a spirit of ingratitude to harden our heart and chill our relationship with God and with others. Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness.”
He goes on to say, “From one end of the Bible to the other, we are commanded to be thankful. In fact, thankfulness is the natural outflowing of a heart that is attuned to God. The psalmist declared, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving” (Psalm 147:7, NIV). Paul wrote, “Be thankful” (Colossians 3:15, NIV). A spirit of thanksgiving is always the mark of a joyous Christian.”
I noticed a lot of people on social media posting different versions of the idea that “God is in control” to remind us that no matter what happens, whether our candidate lost an election, or our team lost a game or maybe someone dear to us has passed away, we should remember that God is still in control of the world. I like this idea a little better, “I wonder if we should change the default line from “God is in control” to; “God is always good. He is always able to bring good from any situation as we trust him.””
Here’s another piece of advice that people throw my way when it seems I am more anxious than thankful … “It could always be worse.” Ha. When things are going bad I have never really understood how that helps. Of course it can always be worse but telling me that doesn’t help me gain any perspective, which I understand is the intent. I think we make a lot of cliché statements that don’t really help because often we don’t know what to say. We want to help. We want to say something that will inspire and elevate others but sometimes we would be better to say, “I’m here. I care. God cares. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Paul declared, “You will even be able to thank God in the midst of pain and distress because you are privileged to share the lot of those who are living in the light” (Colossians 1:12, Phillips). I don’t know what trials you may be facing right now, but God does, and He loves you and is with you by His Holy Spirit. Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness even in the midst of trials and heartaches. “God has given us the greatest Gift of all—His Son, who died on the cross and rose again so that we can know Him personally and spend eternity with Him in heaven.””
And let me remind each of you … we are deeply thankful for each of you who are supporting us in many different ways. We would not be able to do what we are doing without you and we are indeed grateful!!