Give Thanks

Contributor:
Joy Bollinger

Thanksgiving should be more than a once-a-year observance. Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart in which we daily express our love, appreciation, and devotion to God, regardless of what is happening in our lives. His Word instructs the believer to give thanks in every circumstance, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:18). That expression of thanks affirms to our wonderful Creator, that no matter the situation we trust in His goodness and faithfulness to protect, provide, and guide us through any challenge or difficulty that life may bring.

As many of you know, ten years ago, my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer. The doctors gave us the devastating prognosis of two to three months to live. At first, our response was, “Why God?” But we quickly realized that we needed to draw nearer to God and “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let [our] requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

We did not thank God for the cancer, because He is not the author of sickness and disease. However, there are times when God allows adversity to achieve a greater purpose in our lives, and in our case, our faith and trust in Him has grown exponentially.

Unfortunately, all of us were birthed into a fallen, sin-ridden world where Satan has his domain and is the author of sickness, disease, destruction, and death. Of course, we cannot lend all the blame to Satan, because some of the things that happen to us are brought about through careless living and destructive lifestyles.

We know that “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [His] ways higher than [our] ways and [His] thoughts than [our] thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). We also know that the thoughts that He thinks towards us, are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Armed with those truths, we were able to move forward with faith, knowing that God has a plan for us.

Despite the fact that my husband is not yet cancer-free, we give thanks each day for another day, because each day is a precious gift not to be wasted. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so we embrace each day as an opportunity to draw closer to God, learn from Him, and express our gratitude for the many blessings that He provides.

PRAYER: FATHER, I thank you for your never-ending goodness and love. Help me, each day, to have a heart of gratitude. Give me the faith to hold onto the promise that I am never alone, because You are with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). May I always trust You to guide my steps as we walk together through the valleys and over the mountaintops. In Jesus’ name, amen.