What do you do when Thanksgiving rolls around, and you’re not sure how grateful you feel? As the year draws to a close and leaves turn yellow and red, we give thanks easily for good times, material provision, and family members we love. (And for pumpkin spice lattes.) But recently a friend challenged me to look back at this year and give thanks not only for the blessings, but also for the difficult and painful circumstances.
How do we learn the secret of giving thanks in our trials?
A few months ago, I heard a simple sermon, which made me think the prophet Jeremiah had learned the secret. Our pastor spoke from Lamentations 3:21-23, and his message impacted me more than any I’d heard in a long time:
Our pastor spoke about finding hope in discouragement, but to be honest, I can’t remember much of the message. What impacted me was that throughout the sermon, we stopped—maybe 8 to 10 times—and repeated together:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”
It wasn’t the sermon that gave me hope, it was the pure and simple word of God.
Each time we repeated the words, I felt faith rising and growing inside me. As we said them together, I looked around at the faces. I could see Richard in his red plaid shirt and baseball cap, alone because his dear, elderly wife can no longer come to church. I saw Jane, who just lost her husband to cancer, and many others in less-than-hopeful circumstances.
But there they were, brave saints declaring God’s steadfast love and great faithfulness.
No matter what situation we’re in, God’s love and faithfulness never leave us.
We always have something to be thankful for.
Jeremiah had discovered a secret. He had many reasons to be discouraged. Israel had fallen to the Assyrians, Jerusalem had been destroyed, and Jeremiah himself even spent time in jail. Yet he penned the words, “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope…”
Maybe the secret lies in calling God’s love and faithfulness to mind.
In all circumstances, we can give thanks for God’s love.
Because we know He loves us, we can trust God to work all things for our good and His glory. His love surrounds us and fills our hearts more than anything we could find in this world.
In any trial, we can thank God for His faithfulness.
Even when we do not understand why God allows our circumstances, we know He is faithful. As we remember His many acts of faithful provision and grace this past year, our hope grows. God will continue to be faithful.
Friend, if you’re facing disappointment or discouragement, how about declaring these words again with me right now?
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”
As the year draws to a close, let’s call God’s love and faithfulness to mind often. Whisper the words before bed, read them in the morning, and pray them on your lunch hour:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”
Gratitude and hope will grow in our hearts.
Note: Advent will start soon! I took great joy in creating Treasuring Christ, an Advent reading plan to help us find joy in Jesus this December. Each day, we’ll read a Scripture passage and meditate on a name for Christ that comes from the passage. If you’d like to receive Treasuring Christ, click on the image below to subscribe to my blog; you’ll receive it on Saturday, November 28th, 2020. {If you’ve already subscribed, you’ll get it in my newsletter.}
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We ALWAYS have something to be thankful for. In the good and the bad. Amen girl. Preach it! xoxo
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
These are some of my favourite verses too and I love the idea of you all repeating them together and declaring God’s love and faithfulness. That is powerful!
It really was! I’ve remembered it these past 2 months!
Betsy, I thank God for His faithfulness every day. I am thankful for His undeserved grace. His patience and understanding. I know that everything taking place in my life serves His divine purpose. I cannot think of anyone better to put my complete trust in. It is not always easy and I fail at times, but that is what makes me love Him even mre-because He still remains faithful. And for that I am grateful. Have awonderful week of Thanksgiving with family. Blessings to you all.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well, Horace! Yes, God always remains faithful. These verses have come to mean a lot to me.
I love this! These verses are key for me as well and I love that reciting them impacted you so deeply. Happy Thanksgiving Betsy!
Thank you, Lisa. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving celebration time with your family, friend.
This is such a beautiful truth, Betsy: “No matter what situation we’re in, God’s love and faithfulness never leave us.” I have just finished memorizing these verses with our Hide His Word community, so I am going to share this with our FB group right now. Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Wow, a “Hide His Word” community sounds wonderful. I’d love to know more about that. Will pm you sometime soon! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving as well.
This is such a beautiful reminder. Gratitude never falls short of bringing us closer to God. The simple act of reading and repeating God’s word is powerful. I love how your pastor laced his sermon with the words from Lamentations. We all should learn from this and be willing to share God’s word corporately.
Yes, it really was such a special message, Mary. I find great comfort and strength through just repeating Scripture verses or passages to myself. Blessings to you at the start of the season!