By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Gratitude

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Tis the season to be thankful. There are so many good things in our lives that we can thank God for, but how do we thank God when we are in the darkest seasons of our life?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,”
James 1:2 New International Version

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 New International Version

Opening our mouths to say “thank you” even when we don’t feel like we have anything to be thankful for can change our posture, lighten our hearts, and see our life as different than before.

Jesus knows our sadness and how things in our life seem dire, but God promises the grief will turn to joy.

“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.
You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
John 16:20 New International Version

“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice,
and no one will take away your joy.”
John 16:22 New International Version

Jesus tells us we will be sad for a while, but joy is coming. Being thankful for the joy that is rapidly approaching is sometimes all a person can do, and that is enough.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 English Standard Version

We can be thankful for everything, and I mean everything, it just takes a simple phrase, “Thank you God/Jesus/Holy Spirit” from our mouths. Let God figure out the outcome while we release the disappointment and pressure, staying close to our Savior and Caretaker in the hard moments, letting God be our partner when we’re lonely or feeling abandoned.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado