Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Thanksgiving evokes images of turkey and dressing with all of the trimmings, but more importantly Thanksgiving has always been about spending time with family. This year is going to be very different for a lot of us. Many of us will not celebrate the holiday with our extended family, but does that mean that we cannot still be thankful?
Can we really be thankful in such a time as this? We all can attest to the fact that we have never seen a time in our lives where there is so much uncertainty, but we must not forget that our God is still in control, and we still have so much to be thankful for.
The Bible gives us many examples of how to be thankful in trying times. When David was fleeing for his life, hiding in caves, he thanked God for blessing him and keeping him safe. Some of the most beautiful Psalms were written in times of sheer desperation. The Apostle Paul is another example of someone who understood the concept of giving thanks in difficult times. While in a dark, cold prison cell, Paul understood the importance of verbalizing his gratitude for those who were supporting him and championing the cause of Christ.
So yes! We can still give thanks in trying times. We can still have joy even in the midst of our trials. We as Christians have been blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit that allows us to have the joy of the Lord in the midst of our trials and tribulations.
So I challenge each of us to literally count our blessings this Thanksgiving. Let’s then share our lists with others.