But, of course, there is a rub. We are asked to be thankful in all things. All things. That is not exclusive. That does not mean all the things we really like or enjoy, leaving out the things that displease us. It does not differentiate the good things and the bad things, allowing us to be thankful for what we want, but grumpy about the rest of it. It means all the time, whether we like it or not, whatever the circumstances or conditions in which we find ourselves. That is a big ask, because life can be very hard indeed, and sometimes the things we deal with are very hurtful. How can God ask us to be thankful for those hard things?
This is a complicated and difficult question, but it is one every single Christian is asked to answer, both when faced with an unbeliever, and eventually even by our own inner doubt. If there is a God, how can he allow Fill In The Blank to happen? Where is there room for thanksgiving in famine, rape, murder, cancer... the list is endless. Where is God in the midst of despair, we are asked. How does a loving, caring God answer for starving children in far flung countries, refugees fleeing for their very lives, preventable disease killing people without hope? And how, in the face of such despair, do we feel thankful?
I have been reading 1 Thessalonians in its entirety, and I find much comfort and solace there. We are not tied to this moment. We must trust that there is a future which will diminish today's trials into nothingness.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:3 we read:
While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.This very visual metaphor is particularly resonant for me, because while labor is painful, the outcome is pure joy. Many of life's difficult moments lead to something better for having endured, even when the good things are hiding from our sight in the moment.
That is God's promise when we trust in the his plan for our lives. Whatever trials present themselves, the glory of eternity will outweigh the pain of this moment, and we can already be thankful that God, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has planned for every eventuality.
I am mindful of the experiences of the Holocaust survivors. Their very survival is a lesson to me about the importance of thankfulness in all things, as many of them talk about how it kept them from giving up all hope. The stories of Corrie Ten Boom are particularly well known to me, and it was one of the great moments of my life to visit the home where she lived a few years ago, to step into The Hiding Place, and to realize the immense sacrifice she made for the seven people she saved.
In her book, "The Hiding Place," Corrie describes how during her time in the concentration camp, she was encouraged by her sister, Betsie, to be thankful in all things, but Corrie was having a difficult time with it. The conditions were sub-human, and their existence so squalid it was challenging to give thanks. The fleas that permeated their bedding were the last straw, and she just couldn't bring herself to be thankful for them. But Betsie insisted, so Corrie prayed her thanks for the fleas, certain her sister was wrong, but humoring her anyway. It turned out the Bible study they had carried out with their fellow prisoners was allowed to continue because the supervisors refused to go into the area to avoid the fleas. How much encouragement and support were given during those uninterrupted hours because of those fleas?
Give thanks in all circumstances. Peace and safety are an illusion, subject to change at any moment. But God is faithful and ever present, and we can always be thankful that his plan is perfect, even in the midst of the worst life can throw at us. Our human moments are but a blip in eternity. God has us for all time. Today, I am thankful for the hard times that will bring me closer to God and his plan for all eternity.
