Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength

We’re thankful for good food, family and friends, a roof over our heads, income, freedom, and health.  But are we thankful when you’re experiencing trouble?  Can we be grateful when we lose our family members, friends, home, our job, or our health?  I’m wondering what Thanksgiving is like for those who lost loved ones, homes, and possessions in the wildfires.  I’m thinking of our dear friend who lost her husband two weeks ago and will be experiencing her first Thanksgiving without him at the head of the table.  I think of the first American Thanksgiving hosted by people who lost family members in the first harsh year of settlement.   Yet thanking God during trouble helps us have a positive outlook and equips us to move forward mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically.  Gratitude puts a “redemptive twist on suffering and adversity,” according to Dr. Robert Emmons a leading expert on the science of gratitude.1.

Even in trouble (especially in trouble!) I can thank God that: 

He Protects my mind and heart
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

He Gives me a perspective with eternity in view instead of focusing on the problems.
“It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.”  Hebrews 11:21
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.  For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. . . in glorious freedom from death and decay.” Romans 8:18-21

He Brings about the best outcome from our troubles.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”  Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  Romans 8:28

He Reminds me of his closeness and care while I face difficulties.
“I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.
When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.”  Psalm 142:2-3 
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31

He Develops my endurance so I won’t give up when troubles come.
“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”  James 1:1-5

He Gives me wisdom to deal with troubles.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.” James 1:6

He Will reward me for enduring through the hard times.
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James1:12

He Helps me be others focused and less self-absorbed in troubling relationships.
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”  James 1:19

He Helps me get rid of wrong attitudes and behavior when under pressure from troubles.
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”  James1:20-22

“In the last days there will be very difficult times.  For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. 2 Timothy 3:1-2 

“The key to unlocking a heart of thankfulness and overcoming bitterness and ugliness and disrespect and violence is a strong belief in God, the Creator and Sustainer and Provider and Hope-giver. If we do not believe we are deeply indebted to God for all we have and hope to have, then the very spring of gratitude has gone dry.

So, I conclude that the rise of violence and sacrilege and ugliness and insubordination in the last times is a God-issue. The basic issue is a failure to feel gratitude …

And when gratitude goes, the sovereignty of the self condones more and more corruption for its pleasure.”  John Piper

“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Ephesians 5:20

1.  https://cct.biola.edu/psychology-gratitude-robert-emmons-saying-thanks-makes-happier/