Are You Really Thankful?

I want to challenge you for a minute on your ability to adequately assess weather you are a thankful person or not.

If I were to give you 10 things to be thankful for, what would they be?

Let me guess. Your list would probably include your family, home, car, job, good health, ect. Is that close to accurate? It would probably be things that make you feel good. Things that make you smile. Objects that make your life here on earth better.

I wonder if it crossed your mind to list the last trial you faced. Did it occur to you to include the last struggle you faced spiritually. Or did your enemy make the list?

Before you write me off as crazy and move on to the next blog or post that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside hear me out.

If you have never been thankful for a trial, difficulty, or challenge that you have faced I want you to become aware of the opportunity to give thanks. To see the hidden blessing. To look at things from a biblical perspective.

First of all, what does the scripture say about this topic?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 4:6, “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”

1 Corinthians 12: 9-10, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then He is strong.”

We are told by God in scripture to give thanks in all things, always. There are beautiful things that take place in the storm. There are things to learn. A lot has to do with your attitude. It’s all about perspective.

Here are 3 things trials teach you:

1. You become more aware of your desperate need for God. Trials help you rely on the Father. Difficult times bring you to your knees. They make you search the scriptures for answers. You draw closer to the Lord.
2. You grow in character. You learn how much you can really take. You recognize your weakness and brokenness. It’s a time to learn what areas you need to grow and mature in. It is a time of refining. You come out stronger.
3. You learn who God is. Times like these give God opportunity in your life to show you His faithfulness. It gives Him room to do miracles. You learn that God can be trusted. Even if He doesn’t fix the problem He walks you through it.

God is more concerned about your spiritual walk than your earthly comfort. He will allow the good, the bad and the ugly to help you mature in your faith. These are blessings. They are experiences to be thankful for. God loves you too much to let you stay the same. If the momma bird never pushed her baby out of the nest, it would never learn to fly!