In Everything Give Thanks

The start of a new year is an exciting time of looking gladly towards the future.  Perhaps of all the years of my life I have never seen a "year" cop more hate than 2020.  I have seen countless memes and references of 2020 that paint those 365 days in a negative light.  I am reminded of a song I sang often growing up taken from Psalm 118:24:  "This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  If we acknowledge each day we are given on earth is a gift received from our good God, how can we say 365 of them in a row are bad?  2020 was an awesome year because we have an awesome God, and should we live to see one day in 2021 we have been granted a blessing beyond what we deserve.

What I love about the song taken from Psalm 118 is the context of the Messiah God would send who would suffer and die for sinners.  Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.  Jesus rejoiced, not in the brutality of His tormentors, but in the salvation God would provide through it.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  It is God's will we would rejoice always, even when we are having a tough day or difficult year.  Verse 18 says, "in everything give thanks."  In every situation, in every season of life, in everything it is most appropriate to give thanks because God remains glorious and good.  Faith in God makes this possible.

It may be a person could be moved to give thanks for COVID or being out of a job, yet giving thanks in everything is a way to walk by faith in God today.  When it hurts, when we cannot make sense of the world, when we feel oppressed, confused and crushed, in everything we give thanks because God remains for us and nothing can separate us from His love.  Because God is infinite in goodness and glory there are innumerable things to give thanks for continuously.  A day ticking over on the calendar is not going to fix our problems or change the world for good:  this is a false hope, fleeting romanticism, and misguided folly.  Each day and each year can be better and better as we grow in faith of our sovereign God who is good, despite our bodies breaking down with tribulations all around.  May God open our eyes to see Him and our mouths to praise Him for His goodness to us regardless of the trials we face.

When Jesus went knowing He would be crucified, He rejoiced and was glad in the day the LORD had made:  a day of salvation, redemption, a day to set captives free from sin and save souls forever.  In everything He gave thanks because this was the will of God for Him and us.  This is not the "power of positive thinking" but the walk of faith by God's grace as we embrace His peace that passes understanding.  We can choose to turn to Jesus today and in everything give thanks.  If we will do this, what a year 2021 will be!