November is often the month that we think about being thankful. We tend to take stock of the many reasons why we should be filled with gratitude. Maybe it’s our health, our families, or our jobs. Can you think of anything you could be grateful for this season?
It’s easy to be grateful for the things that are going right in our lives, but did you know that in scripture, it says we should give thanks in EVERYTHING? The verse goes like this:
Let’s take a moment to examine this verse in context. Let’s go back to verse 16 and reread this passage.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
So this verse is telling us to be joyful (rejoice), pray always, and be grateful in every circumstance? What!? I don’t know about you but that seems impossible. We have all been in difficult situations in our lives and I for one, have a hard time being grateful.
But you will notice that the Apostle Paul isn’t telling us to be grateful FOR everything but IN everything. To me, that means that even in the midst of trials, we can find something to be grateful for. Maybe you are going through a health issue, and while that can be extremely troubling, perhaps you may find that you can be thankful for that friend or family member who has been right there with you, helping you every step of the way.
Or maybe your finances are not looking so good right now. But you are still able to live in your home. That is something to be grateful for. If we look hard enough we can find reasons to still have gratitude in the midst of challenges.
The last section of that verse, says, “for this is God’s will in Christ Jesus for you.” I take that to mean that God wants us to continually give thanks and it is in Christ’s strength that we are able to do so, even when in our own strength it seems impossible.
I encourage you to take inventory of your life this month. Maybe write a list of all the things you can be thankful for. Start with the little things. The things that you just might be taking for granted.
Then, stop for a moment to truly take in and enjoy the beauty of this time of year. Feel the cool crisp air, hear the crunchy fallen leaves, see the beautiful array of colors. Then reread the above scripture verse and find a way to enjoy God’s Creation on this Serenity Sunday.
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