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The Secret to Giving Thanks When You Need Hope

November 20, 2018 by betsydecruz 12 Comments

What do we do when we don't feel grateful on Thanksgiving? Let's learn Jeremiah's secret: when giving thanks comes hard, we call to mind God’s love and faithfulness.

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:

What do we do when we don't feel grateful on Thanksgiving? Let's learn Jeremiah's secret: when giving thanks comes hard, we call to mind God’s love and faithfulness.

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.

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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.

What do we do when we don't feel grateful on Thanksgiving? When giving thanks comes hard, let's call to mind God’s love and faithfulness.

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.

When giving thanks comes hard, let’s call to mind God’s love and faithfulness.

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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.}

Subscribe to faithspillingover.com to receive Treasuring Christ, an Advent reading plan to help us find joy in Jesus this December.

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Filed Under: Encouragement Tagged With: Giving Thanks, How to Give Thanks When You Don't Feel Like It, Lamentations 3:23-24, Thanksgiving

Comments

  1. Nicki Schroeder says

    November 20, 2018 at 11:32 am

    We ALWAYS have something to be thankful for. In the good and the bad. Amen girl. Preach it! xoxo

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      November 20, 2018 at 2:05 pm

      Happy Thanksgiving to you!

      Reply
  2. Lesley says

    November 20, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      November 20, 2018 at 8:54 pm

      It really was! I’ve remembered it these past 2 months!

      Reply
  3. Horace Williams Jr says

    November 20, 2018 at 6:14 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      November 20, 2018 at 8:55 pm

      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.

      Reply
  4. Lisa Appelo says

    November 21, 2018 at 12:39 pm

    I love this! These verses are key for me as well and I love that reciting them impacted you so deeply. Happy Thanksgiving Betsy!

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      November 25, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      Thank you, Lisa. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving celebration time with your family, friend.

      Reply
  5. Lisa notes says

    November 21, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      November 25, 2018 at 4:50 pm

      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.

      Reply
  6. Mary Geisen says

    November 25, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • betsydecruz says

      November 28, 2018 at 10:45 am

      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!

      Reply

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Hello! I’m Betsy.

I believe overwhelmed women can learn to take small steps to experience more of God's presence and power in their lives. When we hear God's voice through His Word, He calms our fears and frees us to receive His peace and joy. Read More…

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Encouraging women to pursue Jesus and live out His purposes. ⬇️I'd love to give you Free Quiet Time Renewal Guide.

Happy Easter! So grateful to celebrate little Leon Happy Easter! So grateful to celebrate little Leon's first Easter with Elijah, Camilla, and the rest of the family ❤️
I'm so grateful God held little Leon in His hands I'm so grateful God held little Leon in His hands and delivered him safely into this world one week ago today!

Camilla and Elijah are doing such a great job as parents already, and we have a cute little cuddlebug to hold and marvel over! Abuelo José is in awe to be able to hold such a little guy! (PSA, last photo is the best!)

I keep marveling over God's faithful care and keep coming back to this verse: "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you." Psalm 71:6

#grandbaby #baby #grandmother #thanks
1. When you and your daughter are students at the 1. When you and your daughter are students at the same seminary.  2. And your husband is on staff there!❤️
So excited to begin at @dallasseminary this fall! Diving into Systematic Theology as a first step to my Masters in Christian Education 😍🎉
Such a fun evening last night at Convocation.
Feliz Navidad from the Cruz family! ❤️🎄 We Feliz Navidad from the Cruz family! ❤️🎄

We've enjoyed such a fun and memorable Christmas season. So grateful for family,  loved ones, and for the way Advent cheers our spirits and reminds us of the wonder of Jesus' coming to earth.

#feliznavidad #merrychristmas #advent #joy  #family
I'm so grateful for all the ways God showed up at I'm so grateful for all the ways God showed up at our Women's Christmas Lunch with @northwestbiblewomen . ❤️🎄 This was the biggest party I've ever hosted, totally beyond my capacity. I'm giving God thanks for the amazing people who made it possible:
👉
#2 Cindy Douglas, our Women's Christmas Lunch Coordinator. So gifted.

#3 Our Ninja team who did the work to pull everything off.

#4 Our speakers, @rebeccacarrell  and @beca.inke . So talented. Filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Amazing worship team is not pictured! 😭)

#5 Fabulous table hostesses, who decorated the tables and made women feel welcome.

#6 Men who volunteered to serve, including my own José!

#7 Northwest group life team women, who served as table hostesses and supported me in those moments when I thought I'd lose my mind! 😂

(Not pictured are our lovely greeters and my dear daughter Camilla, who was at my side, one of my best friends. ❤️)

#thanks to all of you! What amazing #teamwork ! ❤️🎄

#joy #christmas #northwestbiblewomen gratitude
Best Thanksgiving ever! So grateful for family and Best Thanksgiving ever! So grateful for family and the blessing of getting to celebrate together. 🍁🦃🍁 (Best surprise ever was when @mcruzpeti walked in the door all the way from Michigan! Apparently everyone in the family knew he was coming except for José and I. ❤️)

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Fortunately, I was not in charge of decorating for Fortunately, I was not in charge of decorating for Sugar and Dice this weekend! Where I would have plunked down autumn leaves and fake pumpkins, my friend Mary had a vision to make our women's social beautiful with these flower arrangments and white pumpkin candleholders.

For me, our event was a fun celebration of women's gifts, and the fact that we are better together!

@kristenains had a great idea, organization, and menu planning skills.
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@marystoelzing made it beautiful (and got her husband and his wheelbarrow to bring in all the pumpkins).
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It's almost 6 months now since I started a new role as women's minister at Northwest Bible Church. I'm so grateful for how God has helped me up to now and for the lovely community of women I get to serve. I've been stretched in new ways, and I'm learning more about desperate dependence on Jesus! He's showing me that the most important thing I can do to serve others well is to cultivate a quiet spirit that waits on God, listens for His voice, and trusts His power instead of running ahead on my own steam! 😅

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Also looking forward to cooler days! What are you looking forward to in this new season? 🍂🍁

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