This morning as I was preparing to share on thankfulness my heart asked me this question. What about the people who feel they have nothing to be thankful for? Maybe they’ve lost their jobs, their businesses, their health and even their friends. What do they have to be thankful for?
Good question.
Let me tell you the story of King David. He and his men had gone out to help figth a war. When they returned home they found their homes had been burned and the wives and children had been carried off by the enemy.
The Bible tells us that these strong, brave, fighting men wept until they had no more tears.
“Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” I Samuel 30:4 KJV
Everything they loved and held dear was gone! To make matters worse, they blamed David. Men who had been loyal members of his army were now ready to kill him. Not only had David lost his family, his home and his city but now he had lost his position and his ability to lead.
“David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.” I Samuel 30:6 NLT
At a time like this, how could he possibly find strength? Another translation of this verse tells us that “David encouraged himself in the Lord”. In my times of greatest struggle and darkness moments I have pulled close to God. Tears streaming down my cheeks, heart aching with pain I have cried out. “God, I can’t do this! I don’t know what to do. There’s no one to help. I’m done! I need You – only You! I need Your strength and Your guidance. I need Your peace.”
“May honor and thanks be given to the Lord, because He has heard my prayer. 7 The Lord is my strength and my safe cover. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. So my heart is full of joy. I will thank Him with my song. 8 The Lord is the strength of His people. He is a safe place for His chosen one.” Psalm 28:6-8 NLV
There is no other place to find true help and strength. God is the only one who can bring peace in the midst of our storms. He is the only one who has the answers.
King David poured out his heart to God in prayer. He got instruction from the Lord on what he should do. He went to his men and told them what the Lord had said and they all went out to recover what had been stolen.
“David took back all that the Amalekites had taken, and saved his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, small or large, sons or daughters, food or anything that had been taken. David returned with all of it. ” I Samuel 30:18-19 NLV
A perfect time to be thankful and praise God is when hope is all but gone. It takes our focus off our circumstances, places it on God and His ability to alter the outcome.
“Why are you sad, O my soul? Why have you become troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my help and my God.” Psalm 42:11 NLV
Being thankful gives us strength!