Back during the dark days of 1929, a group of ministers in the Northeast gathered to discuss how they should conduct their Thanksgiving Church services. Things were about as bad as they could get, with no sign of relief. The bread lines were depressingly long, the stock market had plummeted, and the term Great Depression seemed a suitable description for the mood of the country.
The ministers thought they should only lightly touch upon the subject of Thanksgiving in respect to the human misery all about them. After all, there was little to be thankful for. But it was Dr. William Stiger, pastor of a large congregation in the city that rallied the group. “This is not the time to give mere passing mention to Thanksgiving,” he suggested, “but just the opposite. It is the time for us to get matters in perspective and thank God for blessings always present.”
This is still true, and relevant, today! The most intense moments of thankfulness are not found in times of plenty, but when difficulties thrive. As 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, we are to “give thanks in all circumstance.” Think of the Pilgrims that first Thanksgiving. Half their number died, they were without a country, but still they were giving thanks to God. I wouldn’t say that they were thankful for the hard times, but, despite the circumstances, they continued giving thanks. Why? There is a big difference between being thankful for all things and being thankful in all things.
Perhaps, right now, you are having intense hardship. Maybe you are experiencing your own personal Great Depression. Life hasn’t been fair. It doesn’t seem like blessings ever go your way. What could you be thankful for? Why should you be thankful?
But I have to ask: Have we made an effort to count all the things that we have in life instead of complaining about the things that we don’t have? It is a good exercise especially when we are prone to pout or whine in self pity. We must learn to be thankful or we will become bitter, discouraged, and self-satisfied.
It may be helpful to do a Thanksgiving inventory. Look into Your life and look for the things you have been blessed with this year. Some things you could be thankful for. If you can’t think of anything here are a few texts that can remind you of what to look for.
• Joshua 23:14 – Did God fulfill a promise in your life this year?
• Ecclesiastes 5:19 – Do you have the ability to work or have possessions?
• Jeremiah 30:17a – Do you have life, health, or have you experienced healing?
• Isaiah 53:4, 5 – Is Jesus your Savior?
Remember, those were your sins, your guilt, your suffering, and your wounds he took on that cross. That was His life that you received. In all circumstances, you can surely thank him for this.
Martin Rinkert was a minister in the little town of Eilenburg, Germany around 350 years ago. He was the son of a poor coppersmith, but somehow, he managed to work his way through an education. Finally, in the year 1617, he was offered the post of Archdeacon in his hometown parish. A year later, what has come to be known as the Thirty-Years-War broke out. His town was caught right in the middle. In 1637, a massive plague, which swept across the continent, hit Eilenburg—people died at the rate of fifty a day and he was the man called upon to bury most of them. In all, over 8,000 people died; among them Martin’s own wife and children. His labors finally came to an end about 11 years later, just one year after the conclusion of the war. His ministry spanned 32 years, with all but the first and the last overwhelmed by the great conflict that engulfed his town. Yet, in the midst of that catastrophic social and personal loss he wrote these words:
Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices.
In the middle of all that suffering, he gave thanks to God. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Friends, it is Thanksgiving season. It is the time when we are reminded of all we are thankful for. As Dr. Stiger said, it is the time for us to get matters in perspective and thank God for blessings always present.
So, “To him who loves us and had freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power, and all our thanks, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:5, 6)