We all celebrate Thanksgiving Day in our own way, but what does it mean? For many, it is a holiday and a time for the family to get together for a meal where most of us eat too much. Perhaps, the rest of the day will be spent watching football games. A time when family members get caught up on what has been going on in other family members’ lives.
There was a time when the public schools taught about the first Thanksgiving in the new world, we call America. Today, there are parades and special events including meals for those less fortunate. For many years, it has been the kickoff day for Christmas shopping.
As an individual, what does thanksgiving really mean? The Bible provides so much clarity on the importance of giving thanks, but we don’t always apply that to our lives fully. When we get that promotion or a raise, it is easy to be thankful – even when we think it is long overdue. Are we as thankful when we get laid off or we are disappointed by some event in our life?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Speaking from a personal experience, early in my career, I had experienced a lot of success at learning new things and demonstrating my abilities which led to promotions and better pay. I knew I worked harder than most of those around me and that I was good at whatever task I was given. Each new level of success, it increased my confidence and also my self-esteem. I did not think beyond what I had been able to accomplish or why that was possible. During many of those years, I worked long hours and for long periods working up to seven days a week. Hard work equals success!
It was only after I began getting more involved at church, that I started understanding how blessed I had been. That I was given many abilities and determination to handle the tasks that I faced. Along with that came the understanding that much would be expected of me. What was hard to grasp was that I must be thankful when things did not go the way I expected. How hard it would be to thank God when you are dealing with problems that appear to only get worse each day. The pain of knowing that a family member is in danger of possibly losing their life. To spend hours reading bible verses to find the strength to get up and go to work the next day.
The source of the strength came from many places; church, bible, family, friends, and the knowledge that God had gotten me through other disappointments in the past. God tells us that we will be tested like a sword that is put in the fire multiple times to increase its strength to do that which it is intended to do. Likewise, if we learn to trust God and allow those problems to be used as examples that we can overcome, then we will know that we will not be alone when we are in the middle of a bad situation.
Romans 8:28 NIV 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 5:3-5 NIV 3 Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
James 1:1-4 NIV 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
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