4 Things We Can Be Thankful For, No Matter What We’re Going Through

I know holidays can be hard for some people.  I’m sure if you think about it, you can think of someone who just lost a loved one and this is the first holiday without them.  Some people have just received bad news from the doctor.  Some have gone through a divorce and are trying to figure out how to share the holidays. Others are mourning over their own sins or poor decisions. Still others are dealing with seasonal depression or loneliness. 

Here’s the thing, the Bible tells us to be thankful in good times and bad…

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

How can we do this?

I’m not writing this to be indifferent to that pain or offer some flippant, Christian cliché.  

There are 4 things to focus on that can fill your heart with thanksgiving even in a tough season.

God’s Grace

Even when we blow it, God’s grace is sufficient to sustain us. You can’t earn His grace and you can’t lose His grace.  It is His unearned favor upon you because of His unconditional love.

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8

God’s grace is there to help us through every situation, even if we caused the problem.

Salvation

According to 1 Corinthians 15:19, if this world is all there is, we are to be pitied. But thank you Jesus for your salvation and the promise of heaven!  Look at the most famous verse in the Bible John 3:16.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.  John 3:16-17

If nothing else, we can thank God for His salvation.  Without it, there’s nothing to be thankful for!

God’s Presence

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8

While the promise of salvation is amazing, I am so thankful that God is also near to us here on this earth.  The promise to never leave us can fill our heart with thanksgiving to one who is always near.

God’s Trustworthiness

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28

I recently preached on the topic “There is Purpose in Your Pain” based off this verse.  While the holiday season may be tough, we can thank God that He will somehow bring good out of our pain and give us beauty for ashes.

We can trust this because He is not like a human being who could lie.  He always tells the truth and always keeps His promises.

The Bible is filled with His Promises and Plans that we can be thankful for because He is trustworthy. 

Today be thankful for His grace, Your Salvation, His Presence and how Trustworthy He is.  Happy Thanksgiving!