By Annelise Jagitsch
Have you ever heard someone complain about something for an extended period of time? It’s really draining, isn’t it? Now, have you ever been that person complaining? Maybe you weren’t complaining in front of someone else. Maybe you were just complaining about everything in your mind. Whatever the case, at the time did you think about being thankful? Did you stop to thank God for life and all the blessings around you?
Personally, I know that when I am complaining about something, it can be really hard to stop and find something to thank God for. Unfortunately along with sin came complaining. In our own sinful human nature, we are prone to complain and look for the things that are not going right in our lives. It’s against our nature to thank God for what He has done and continues to do for us.
Psalm 106:1 says, “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.” The Bible literally commands us to be thankful. But the most fascinating part about this command is that right after God commands us to be thankful he gives us the reason why. We are to be thankful because Jesus loves us with an everlasting love! How incredible is that? Jesus loves us unconditionally and endlessly!
Even if nothing in life is going right. Even if it seems like there is nothing to be thankful for, God has given us something to be thankful for. That is so amazing! God loves me! He loves you! He gives us so many endless blessings and gifts that we don’t deserve.
Next time you are struggling and having a hard time being thankful remember who loves you. This Thanksgiving as you sit down around your Thanksgiving meal, surrounded by family and maybe a few friends, just remember who made it possible. Remember that He has given you life and the opportunity to be grateful for it. Thank Him for his incredible love. Thank Him for creating you to be your own unique person with your own thoughts and opinions. Thank Him for giving you the chance to be thankful. And thank Him for that amazing Thanksgiving meal that you’re about to eat.