Thankful Hope

Give thanks to the LORD and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4

 
Thankfulness. Sometimes it comes easily. And sometimes not. Being thankful for what we have, for the obvious blessings, for the good things: we might not always be as thankful as we should, but when we are reminded to be thankful, it's not too difficult. It's harder when things are not going well. It's easy to get swallowed up by despair when illness, loss, loneliness, or distress cloud our view. Thankfulness seems impossible, or at the very least, weak and temporary.

We might read the Scripture, Give thanks to the LORD and praise his name, and think, For what? For this pain? For this grief? For what destroyed my home or family? For these trials that are too great to bear? Sure, things were great once, but now? What do I have to be thankful for today?

If you've had these thoughts or are having them now, you're not alone. I've had them. Others have had them. Many are feeling the same way. We might put on our happy face and enjoy a holiday meal with family or friends. We might even feel joy and admit we DO have things to be thankful for, but after the temporary feelings of gratitude fade, when tomorrow comes and it's back to the daily grind, we plummet back into the reality of our circumstances and might even feel worse than before.

A joyful holiday can't solve everything. A day of thankfulness isn't enough to carry us through a difficult year. Even if our life is generally going well, we need more than a thankful heart. We need more than blessings to truly be content and joyful. We need to remember who we are. We need to know God is God.

If we look at all of Psalm 100, we see there are conditions to having a thankful heart. It's not something that comes automatically, nor should it be forced. It's not a "grin and bear it" attitude. It's not even about recognizing how blessed we really are. It's about whose we are and how we are made to live--as those who belong to God; as those who are loved unconditionally.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness,

Come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

God is God, and He is our God. He is your God. We can be thankful because He is the Good Shepherd and He cares for His sheep. He will never abandon us. He will protect and provide for His flock--always. If a sheep wanders off, He will go after it. If one runs away, He waits patiently for its return--welcoming us with open arms. Being thankful is more than an attitude, it's a way of being. It's a mindset of being the object of His love.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good

and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Being thankful isn't only about recognizing our blessings. It's about knowing our blessings come from God and we are loved. It might not seem like it right now, but He IS faithful. He IS good. He will see you through whatever is difficult now. He will surround you with His love. He will carry you. He will rescue you. You can be thankful for what is coming, even if you can't see it yet. 

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart.

Those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.

Isaiah 40:11,31

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Photo credit: Freeimages.com/skyro