First, we learned being thankful is the Lord’s will.
Then, we learned that we are to give thanks
(Stone from Dutch Mill, Inc.)
The second word of the verse can be just as challenging as the first.
See, we’re two words into the verse, and we’re under serious conviction.
In
everything.
Everything?
Everything!
We might doubt the wisdom and expected execution
of our dear Heavenly Father.
Really? Everything?
Christmas is coming up.
If you’re like me, you’ll make sure there are several gifts
for each family member under the tree.
Do you expect your children to thank you for every gift?
Really?
Even the socks?
Even the underwear?
Even the chia pet from the auntie?
Give thanks for every gift?
If we can expect this of our children,
our Heavenly Father can expect this of us.
Wait a minute, I hear you protesting,
trials aren’t the same as gifts!
That’s not a fair comparison!
It isn’t?
We only think of these situations as trials
because we can’t see the Lord’s big picture.
We got a flat tire once.
Friday rush hour traffic on I-5.
It was raining.
Bumper to bumper traffic trying to escape Seattle.
We could have complained
and fussed and moaned.
We thanked the Lord and changed the tire.
We missed a 10+ car pile-up.
I know you what know what everything means,
but let’s just spell it out anyway.
each
every
any
all
the whole
everyone
all things
It’s easy to give thanks to the Lord when we buy a new house,
have a new baby, get our income tax refund back,
make a new friend, get a front row parking place,
enjoy a family vacation.
These good things from the Lord should cause our hearts
to overflow with thanksgiving.
He is the giver of all good gifts.
But, giving thanks in everything has to include cancer.
It has to include losing friends to cancer.
It has to include moving.
It has to include accidents.
It has to include trials.
It has to, because it’s the Lord’s will.
And if it’s the Lord’s will,
then it’s the right thing to do.
We give thanks in everything
because we don’t know every part of God’s plan.
We don’t know every person He’s trying to touch through our situation.
We don’t know every blessing the Lord wants to give us.
We can’t pick and choose when we want to trust the Lord.
We either trust Him or we don’t.
To trust Him it means giving thanks in
everything,
because nothing is out of His care or His plan.
I am slowly learning this lesson. Being thankful for the move to Alaska, AS we were moving, was a big step for me. …but as far as the days of 12 loads of laundry (I was sick…it piled up…)like today, I tend to forget to be thankful for the fact that we even have that much clothes….thanks for the reminder.