November 22, 2020
Thankfulness and gratitude can be very positive influences in your life.
Despite being overshadowed by the covid-19 pandemic, there are parts of 2020 that we can still reflect upon, and give thanks for.
To ignore the negative impacts would be absurd, but to ignore the joy, love, and faith we have as Christians would be just as bad. We as Christians have a higher calling.
The writer of James reminds us that “every good and perfect gift comes from the Father.” All the good things in the world come from God.
In his letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul reminds them…
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
That’s a message we should remember too.
This message isn’t about diminishing the reality of the difficult times of 2020. Hundreds of thousands of people have died. Even though many people might have died this year, many more people have died because of covid-19. Injustice is still rampant in the world. Society still struggles to solve many difficult problems. We’re depressed. We’re lonely. We miss activities with people, like traveling, sports, and concerts.
Nevertheless, thankfulness is still important. Our beliefs don’t allow us to blame God. People are still free to decide and act in ways that cause consequences to other people. God is so powerful that even in the midst of terrible times, He still gets good things done. Because of his goodness, he still brings beauty out of the ashes.
Please join us in giving thanks for the good things God has done. Take some time to consider what you can be thankful for, even in the midst of this tumultuous year.