When are you most likely to give thanks? Let’s consider three times.
First of all, in times of abundance. One would think that the more one gets, the more often one would give thanks. But actually, the exact opposite often happens. In many cases, the more we get, the more we take it all for granted. Think about it. A few decades ago, when people first got electricity and indoor plumbing, they thought they were the most blessed people on earth. They were thankful to be living in such wonderful times. But today, if the power or water is interrupted for even a few hours, we are likely to cry out, “Why me, oh Lord!” Everything can work without interruption for years, and how often in those years do we stop to thank God for the comfort of indoor plumbing and electricity? Our many blessings are quickly taken for granted, and we lose all perspective. The average American lives better than 90% of the people on earth, but still many are tempted to look at those few who are even more well off, feel sorry for themselves, and say, “Why can’t I get a break?” An old German proverb says “It takes strong shoulders to bear good times;” and it takes a good memory to remember to give thanks in times of abundance. Blessings are quickly taken for granted and thankfulness is forgotten.
Well then, what about times of adversity? It is certainly true that it is in times of trouble we are most likely to turn to God to plea for his help. And that is what we should do. God encourages us to come to him in times of trouble, and he has promised to hear us. So, in times of trouble there is indeed more prayer, but the prayers are usually not prayers of thanksgiving. The prayers are more often requests for help.
But there is another occasion for prayer, and it is in these times when I believe we are most likely to get prayers of thanks. These are the times of blessing and abundance that follow times of hardship and trouble and uncertainty and pain. For example, if someone has been healthy every day of their lives, they might take good health for granted and not give much thought to being thankful. But if someone has had cancer and had been given little chance of surviving; and then endured months of chemotherapy that left them ill much of the time. And if that person then survives and gets better, and feels good again, you can be sure they will appreciate good health like never before. They will be thankful for every day they feel good.
A New York City cab driver from another country was talking with his passenger. The passenger said with a laugh, “So you left your country, you come here, and now you have to fight this New York traffic all day, every day of your life.” “Yes,” said the driver, “isn’t God good?!” He was very thankful to be facing only New York traffic, and not facing oppression, danger, war, and starvation. The blessings that followed such extreme adversity made him most thankful to God.
Harold was an old man I visited for the last few years of his life. He lived in a small studio apartment in an assisted living facility. He was mostly independent, but was not able to live on his own. He had two sons that he got along with all right, but they lived far away and he didn’t see them often. He didn’t visit much with the others in his building because they couldn’t hear him and he couldn’t hear them. He had surgery to fix a bad hip, but it didn’t help much, so he was in a wheelchair, and always in pain. Harold didn’t have a lot going on in his life in any more, and he could have been a sad and lonely, and even angry man, just waiting to die. But Harold was one of the happiest people I have ever known.
Harold had a life of adversity. He was born with a bad hip and it bothered him all his life. He still always worked, and lived with the pain, but was not able to get good jobs and never made much money. He bought a shabby little house and was always proud to say “Every rotten board in this place is mine and paid for in full.” He and his wife raised two boys. A long time ago his wife got sick, and he took care of her until she died. In time, he could no longer live alone. His boys had to sell his house for him and move him into that tiny apartment. There he would sit in his chair all day watching TV, or sit at his table playing solitaire– but Harold could not have been happier. He said to me one day, “You know, when I was younger and struggling along, I never would have thought I could one day have it as good as I have it right now.” Harold didn’t have much, but after all the adversity he had been through, he was thankful to God for his wonderful life.
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I Thessalonians 5:18 — In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Psalm 136:1 — Oh, give thanks, unto the Lord, for he is good, and his mercy endures forever.
Colossians 3:17 — Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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O Lord, give us grateful hearts. For if we do not have the grace to thank You for all that You have already given us, how can we have the audacity to ask You for more? In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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For all the important things in life we thank You, God. We thank You for life, for health, for food, for shelter, for vigor, for work, for opportunities to love, for people who care, and for Jesus, who forgives us when we fail, and gives us the opportunity to begin each day with a new start. In His name we pray. Amen.
