Hope for the Holidays {Why We Give Thanks}

Dear ones, there are so many sorrows in this world — so much heartache, so much pain, so many questions.  We who have said goodbye to a beloved child have known great pain. 

But in this season of Thanksgiving, we are reminded often about what God’s Word says about being thankful.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
-Ephesians 5:20

“Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever!”
-Psalm 106:1

We watch as many of those around us begin posting daily a list of the things they are thankful for.  We gather with family to eat and give thanks, all the while wondering if anyone besides you notices the empty chair at the table.   

And as your arms are aching with the weight of emptiness is it easy to look at your life and wonder, “Be thankful in everything?  Even in this?  Even in the midst of this sorrow?  I couldn’t possibly give thanks when this has been my lot!”

But sweet sister, it is important for us to remember that not every song of thanksgiving is sung to the same tune.  God does not demand that we ignore the pain in our hearts in order to offer up a colorless and insincere shout of praise.   No. Rather, through the short, but deeply significant life of your precious children on earth and the lessons you have learned through the agony of saying goodbye on this side of eternity, God is teaching your heart to sing in ways that you would not be capable of without having known this sorrow.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”
-Psalm 40:3a

And day by day God will reveal new layers of this song in the furthest recesses of your soul.  As you become more intensely gripped by His greatness, so this new song in your mouth will break forth in praise to our God in exceeding measure.

It is not wrong to be sad during this season of Thanksgiving.  But we who are in Christ, know Jesus died and rose again in order that all that is broken can be redeemed.  That is why in the midst of such terrible pain we can still have hope knowing that this world isn’t all there is.  Our hope is never futile when it has been placed in Christ.

“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”
-1 Peter 4:13

Oh sisters!  What a day that will be!  Do not let eternity out of your sight!  One day everything will be made right!  One day every tear will be wiped away!  One day we will see our babies again!  One day the fullness of His glory will be revealed! 

Our thanksgiving in the midst of suffering is evidence of how momentary our grief and pain is in light of the extraordinary eternal joy that is to come!  And so, we declare His goodness in every circumstance!  We proclaim to the world what He has done for us! 

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”
-Psalm 16:5, 6

He is our portion — our beautiful inheritance!  As we draw nearer to Jesus, we begin to recognize deep in our souls that our plenty does not come from our wealth, our successes, our relationships, our status, our health, or how many children we have on earth.  No, He is our plenty.  We have been given all that we need and so much more than we deserve through His great grace and mercy.  And because His mercies know no end, we can truly give thanks regardless of any other circumstance in our lives. 

His promises are steadfast, even when it seems as though your world is collapsing.
His mercy is everlasting no matter the road you are walking.
His faithfulness is great even in the midst of enormous heartache.

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire,
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord!”
-Psalm 40:1-4

Will you let Him write a new song through your life?  Will you let your life be a song of praise to our God?   Our God is good all the time — even when things look unjust from our earthly perspective, even when the sorrow seems too great to bear. God’s grace abounds.  And as we continue to place our trust in Him, our joy will abound as well. 

And this is why we give thanks.

Ashlee is the Editorial Coordinator for Hope Mommies. She and her husband, Jesse, have four children on earth and two little ones in Heaven.
You can get to know her more by reading her blog, https://beyondundone.wordpress.com/

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