As we continue discussing Thanksgiving, we will take the time to understand how to be thankful while going through hardship. Being thankful is easy when everything is rosy and going well. The real test of thanksgiving is being thankful while going through adversity. This year 2020 has been one of the hardest years to be born in. The year started off with a pandemic that shocked the world. People dying all around the world, the stock market crashed, jobs and business were lost and so many others. Everyone is in a state of panic. There does not seem to be much to be thankful for. It is at such a time that the bible says be thankful.

Ephesians 5:20 says

“giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father.”

At all times meaning in the morning, noon and night. When you are happy, sad, excited, depressed and weak. All things meaning an aggregate of something. In every situation give thanks. David was one prime example in the bible who was always thankful. He says in Psalm 43: 5

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again, my savior and my God.”

Being thankful during difficult times is extremely hard. I remember the year 2018 was a very tough year for me. I learnt how to be thankful in hard times. I remember watching the monitor flatline and seeing my baby’s heart stop and not knowing what to do. With tears running down my cheeks I could only sing “God of the hills and Valleys” by Tauren Wells. It was like God was teaching my husband and I how to be thankful in every situation. Crying out in hurt but knowing without a doubt that God has got you and you are joyful just knowing that truth. No matter what is happening, you can always find a reason to laugh and be joyful even in the storms of life.

Having a baby at 25 weeks and seeing that baby not much bigger than your palm survive and is a thriving 2-year-old, you know without a shadow of doubt that being thankful makes all the difference. As Christians today, we believe that because we know God, we are not supposed to go through hardship but that is an incorrect statement. John 16:33 clearly states

“I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.”

If it is written in the bible clearly why do, we assume that as Christians we will not suffer? We act like God has abandoned us when things do not go our way. We are so quick to ask God why me? What did I do for this calamity to befall me? Never thinking that he is teaching you something by allowing you to go through trials. A part of the Lord’s prayer says ”Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me.”

God promises to be with us through everything we are going through, doesn't that make you want to thank him. Irrespective of your sins he has promised to be with you always. Job was another man who found something to be thankful for in spite of losing his entire fortune and children in one day. That is devastating. To make matters worse his friends did not believe he was innocent and thought that God was punishing him for something he had done in the past. Not knowing that God was showing off to the Devil about his servant Job. I used to think to myself Lord please do not show off like that for me please. I do not know how I would handle such devastation all in one day. As soon as Job heard of all the calamity that had happened to him his first thing was to fall on his face and worship the Lord. Job 1: 20-21 says

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I come from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."

When terrible things happen to you, is your first instinct to worship God? To be thankful? To be honest it is not. I am human so my first instinct is to cry and stress about it before remembering to thank the Lord for his many blessings. As we start this week, take a moment to think about all bad, uncomfortable, sad things that have happened to you, and make a conscious effort to be thankful during that time. I can assure you; your heart will feel lighter. It will take some getting used to but as you do it you will start to see changes in your attitude towards adversity.