Can We Really Show Gratitude in the Hard Times?

Ephesians Chapter 5

I remember when my kids were little and someone would give them something or do something for them and I would tell them to say "thank you."  This of course was a training time teaching my kids to be thankful.  Now that they are older they just say thank you on their own.  There may be times when they need to be reminded, but for the most part they just say thank you themselves and I don't have to tell them every time anymore. 

Looking into Ephesians chapter 5 in verse 20 we see that Paul is telling us that we should give thanks.  "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;". 

Should we give God thanks for the bad things that happen in our lives?  For instance if you have a flat tire.... "Thank you Jesus for the flat tire!"  Sounds a bit ridiculous doesn't it?  I believe that the Lord does not want us to be silly about it and look at things in our life like that.  Honestly, I do not think I would be thankful for the flat tire. But… what if having that flat tire slowed me down to the point where I was able to avoid being in an accident? What if it kept me safe in a way that I didn’t know? Of course we don’t usually have that kind of information, but it is possible that God keeps us from things that we cannot see. One day in Heaven we will know, but for now, we can know that God knows and show thankfulness no matter what.

What if we look at things in a way that we are actually thankful for the good and the bad? 

For example, years ago, I suffered a miscarriage.  It was a devastating time in my life.  At the time, I was not jumping for joy in thankfulness to God for losing my precious baby.  Nor, do I believe that God wanted me to do that.  You see, as I suffered my loss, God brought three people into my life that also suffered the same loss after I did.  Because of what I had been through, the Lord allowed me to be a help and encouragement to those who went through the same thing.  Guess what? I am thankful for that.  I am thankful that God was able to use me to help others with the trauma I had been through.  Even though I am not glad that my baby is gone.

Whether it is a flat tire, grieving a loss, or ... whatever it may be, we can find a place to be thankful in that situation.  We can choose to see God's hand in our situation and praise Him for what He is doing.  There are many times that we have no idea what God is doing in our situation and circumstances.  Yet, we can still show thankfulness to God for what He is doing behind the scenes that we cannot see.  God will show us in His time what He is accomplishing in our lives. Right now, through the trial, it is most important to trust Him.

Colossians 3:15- "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

When we let God's peace rule in our hearts it is so much easier to be thankful.  To rely on God knowing He has a purpose for everything that happens in our lives. 

I also believe that God wants us to be thankful for the good things.  This is so much easier. Going back to the beginning of this post and how I was teaching my kids to be thankful at a young age, I was teaching them to say thank you for the good things that others had given them or done for them.  Do you ever forget to say thank you or to be thankful for the good things that come to you?  Sometimes I am forgetful in that area.  Whether someone gives me something or God sends a blessing, I do forget to say thank you at times.  I know that I need to be more thankful to those who are  a blessing in my life. 

What is it for you?  What are those hard things in your life that you can be thankful for?  Who can you possibly be a blessing to with what you have been through?  It is ok if you are not thankful YET for those tough times in your life, it does take time.  I wasn't thankful right away for the miscarriage, but as time went on and God used it for good in my life I became thankful for the opportunities that God gave to me through that very difficult time Give yourself time to heal and time to allow God to work.  I know that Romans 8:28 is true- "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

God is an amazing God and He can and will take those hard things in life and turn them around for good.  I do not know HOW He does this but I know He WILL if we allow Him to work in our lives. 

Let’s not forget to be thankful in all things. It helps to make a list! Let’s remember what God has done for us.