Sweet moments. Beauty. Comforts. Blessings. Abundance. Warmth. Health. Love. Kindness. Children. Laughter.
Gratitude and thanksgiving comes so easily with the likes of these. But what if yours is a season like Jobs? What if your life is full of affliction, disappointments and despair? What if the darkness seems to drown out the light? Is there thanksgiving even in the dark? Is gratitude even there, at the bottom of the pit?
I am learning that, yes, there can be gratitude even there. There MUST be.
This Thanksgiving, alongside all the glorious goodness the Lord has heaped upon my life, I am also giving thanks for...
the afflictions in my life.
They remind me that I am wholly dependent upon God's mercy. In my own sanctification. In mothering. In the lives of my children. It is far too easy to forget how full of sin and misery we are without His grace.
They tear down my idols. Somewhere along the line, I unknowingly began to believe that it was by my own merit, my own good mothering, my own selflessness, my own wisdom, my own protection, my own efforts that I would create a peaceful and holy bubble in which the sins of this world could not enter. By my will alone! I have created idols of myself, my husband, my children, my friends; no less ludicrous than dumb statues or golden calves.
They remind me that my brightest accomplishments are like dross. They remind me that nothing good comes from my own hand, but simply by the Grace of God.
They draw me close to the Lord in prayer.
They shine a light on my need for repentance.
As Thomas Watson said "God makes adversity our university and affliction our preacher." The Lord uses afflictions to instruct.
for the suffering...
It purifies me.
It refines me.
It reminds me that my Father is a Comforter. I cry out to Him.
It reminds me that this world is not my home and there is a more glorious life to come.
It shouts with a megaphone over the noise of this world that all is under His watchful hand.
for the separations and goodbyes.
The goodbyes, as painful as they are, indicate that there once was togetherness. And it was sweet.
for broken hearts.
And for the healing that comes after.
Whether the blessings in your life are pleasant ones or hard ones, whether the gratitude comes easily or with some practice, may your Thanksgiving be a day with eyes be wide open with the wonder of a loving God.
(Also, if you are struggling with hard providences of your own, might I suggest reading The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson? It has been a true comfort and source of guidance for me.)
