Give Thanks

At this time of year our thoughts align toward things we are thankful for as we look toward Thanksgiving celebrations. This scripture was used in our church service yesterday:

Rejoice always!
17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Each year I ask God for a word He wants me to delve into, research, study, and take to heart in a new and meaningful way. The word He gave me this year was thankfulness or gratitude.

It's easy to give thanks and praise to God during the easy times of our lives - when things are going smoothly or we receive unexpected joys along the way. But it's in those hard moments or seasons when everything seems to be going wrong or against us - those are the times we may struggle with giving thanks the most.

I'm in one of those seasons right now. My list could go on and on of all the difficult situations we've faced in just the past few days alone. I want to wave a flag and say "I've had enough. You can stop anytime now with all the bad things in my life. I'm ready for a new course."

But I look at this scripture and it says to 'give thanks in everything' - not when I feel like it... or when things are going my way... 'in everything'. Even in the midst of water leaks and having to rip out a bathroom...or two, soaked carpeting, mold issues, hacked email accounts, etc. The NIV Bible for this verse says to 'give thanks in all circumstances.'

So today, despite my tears and heartache... I still choose to give thanks. My Lord's faithfulness is not contingent on my circumstances.