Thankful...in all Circumstances

Can I be thankful in any circumstance?

Last week I wrote about the discipline of gratitude. The ability to give thanks in all circumstances is an indicator of my spiritual health. As a Christ follower, I am challenged to find the courage to give thanks through difficult circumstances and unanswerable situations. This discipline alone has been one of the most profound in over twenty five years of ministry.

It wasn't until I worked through my own experiences of disappointment, despair, agony and isolation that I could grasp the reasoning behind God's command for his people to give thanks. Precious jewels like peace, understanding, sacrifice and humility were hidden within the complex activity of giving thanks. I found emotional release and psychological relief in the midst of personal turmoil and grief as I gave thanks to God in all my circumstances.

I discovered that giving thanks to God in all circumstances created a bond of security and hope with him. Gratitude kept my heart healthy and un-offended. When we receive the benefits of this revelation, our thanksgiving to God doesn’t rely on the circumstances around us, but rather, the strength we find from a good God in us.

The circumstances we face may be grim and our questions may go unanswered. But, if we give thanks in the middle of these circumstances, we will come to know God in ways we could never imagine. Knowing God. He is our reward.

"No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:18 [The Living Bible]

Grateful to Move On

I hit the wall.

 

Sometimes I get stuck. Busy lives filled with demands of work, family and friends can be draining. Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly vision casting and trying to propel things forward but receive little or no movement in response. Visions can get overwhelmed with details. Sometimes I find my original thoughts and hopes hijacked by a powerful personality or a situation that emerges. Pretty soon I just give up. I hit the wall.

Maybe you've had that experience, too. The only thing that really helps me move on is gratitude. Thankfulness can shift my attitude and compliment what has already been accomplished. Thankfulness helps me recognize that subtle nudges over time move visions along further than I realize.

 

Thankfulness is a discipline. True humility can saturate our heart and mind when we are disciplined to be thankful. In the book of Leviticus, we read how God provided a similar way for the people of Israel to be thankful and to give praise. They were to bring a peace offering that affirmed their covenant and identified them as a fellowship. Interestingly, peace, gratitude and fellowship were all seamlessly woven together in this important Levitical offering. If you want to learn more about the peace offering, click here.

 

Gratitude releases us from self-pity. It challenges us to identify God's greater creativity in the lives of others and consider the bigger picture. God is always at work in the larger scheme of life. We can all be thankful for the little wins along the way that lead to greater wins God's way. We start a new mini-series this week called Thank•ol•o•gy: The Study of Being Thankful. Being thankful is God's idea. It can transform us from selfish individuals who believe in entitlement and deservedness into humble people who are inspired to do good things for God and others.

"From the fullness of his grace we have received on blessing after another. For the law came through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17 [NIV]

Not in All Israel

It's not hard to believe in God when God is all you have.

 

The words still slice through my heart and mind. Manal is a wife and mother with a mind for business. She manages her household well. Her husband works three jobs to bring home enough money to maintain their standard of living on the west bank of the Palestinian territory. She is a friend of mine. Our hearts are unmistakably intertwined. I guess you could say we are soul-sisters.

 

I met Manal during my first trip to Israel. Our tour guide invited my husband and I to have dinner in Manal's home with a small group of American travelers in January of 2001. My first trip to Israel was rush of culture and politics. I felt a constant level of anxiety while traveling in the Middle East.  My anxiety increased every time I tried to communicate with street vendors or discern important locations with very little success. Arabic, Hebrew and English are very complex languages that have very little in common. In truth, I was terrified of going into Palestinian territory with a group of people I hardly knew. I desperately prayed for safety as I sat in the backseat of the Volkswagen minivan driven by a Palestinian cab driver with loud Arabic music blaring from the cheap speakers.

 

I was secretly embarrassed by my short-sightedness and prejudices as we were greeted with extraordinary hospitality upon arrival at Manal's home. She hugged me like a long-lost sister the moment I walked in. She whisked me into her kitchen and educated me about her secrets of making all her traditional dishes. I felt like I was in the presence of a Palestinian Julia Child!

 

God must've hoped I would learn significant lessons during my first trip to Israel-Palestine. I admired Manal. I learned how complete strangers could extravagantly extend themselves to make others feel welcome. My relationship with Manal set the tone for my other mission adventures. Sometimes we are the recipient of the greater lesson when we say yes to God. While chopping carrots, I can still hear Manal's voice in my mind saying, "It's not hard to believe in God when God is all you have."

 

Investing in mission isn't always about changing the lives of others. Sometimes, the mission field is located in the center of our own heart.

 

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." Matthew 8:10