The Power of Giving Thanks

Debbie W. Wilson's blog posts continue to apply biblical truth to rubber-meets-the-road heart issues. In this Thanksgiving UPGRADE she applies the truth of giving thanks to the tough topic of disappointments.

"Is it possible to trust God with problems and disappointments before they’re resolved? Yes!" Debbie says. "Let me share my story of how I learned it’s not only possible, but powerful."

I (Dawn) have recently faced a the specter of disappointment, and Debbie's words encouraged me more than I can express. I pray she will encourage you too.   

Debbie continues . . . 

During my senior year of college, a restless anxiety began to build in me. Graduation loomed, and I wasn’t sure what to do next.

I overheard some sorority sisters talking about a ski retreat with a Christian group. The group was a bit more zealous in their faith than I was, but a ski retreat should be safe. And I needed a dose of inspiration.

The group chartered an old school bus to carry us to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As soon as we hit the mountain foothills, the bus began to sputter, stutter, and stop. Obviously, the bus preferred the flat lands of coastal Georgia.

The first time we halted, several students prayed while the bus driver worked to repair the bus. They prayed something like this:

“Thank you, Lord for being in control.”

“Thank you, for allowing this to happen.”

“Thank you, that you are working this out for Your purpose and our good.”

Thanking God wasn’t new to me. But these prayers stunned me.

Who thanks God for disappointment?

As we climbed steeper hills, the stops became more frequent. The heater quit working. My toes felt colder than the frozen snow beside the road.

Each breakdown brought more prayers of thanksgiving.

Finally, late into the night, long after the conference’s evening sessions had ended, our bus sat on the side of a dark highway—broken-down—again.

Across the street sprawled a dingy motel that could have been named Cockroach Inn. When talk about staying there surfaced, I added my silent prayers to the others.

“Dear Lord, don’t listen to these people! I don’t want to spend the night here. We’re cold and tired. Please get us to the conference—tonight.”

The bus rumbled, and we were off. We tiptoed into our sleeping rooms trying not to wake the others.

Engaging speakers, joyful singing, and lots of fun made the weekend better than I’d anticipated. But the attitude of the students and staff both on the bus and at the conference stood out most.

One young man lost his senior ring and didn’t fret.

Who were these people who trusted God with their disappointments?

I began attending church nine months before I was born. I knew Jesus as my Savior and that I was going to heaven when I died. But I lacked the calm confidence these students displayed.

I’d never considered turning to the Lord with my day-to-day disappointments.

That weekend created a thirst to know Jesus better—not because of the wonderful teaching, great worship, or fun—though those didn’t hurt. I wanted to know Him better because of the peace these students showed during disappointment. They trusted God was at work in all things—even disappointment.

And they were right. Not only did God use that broken-down bus to make me thirsty to know Him better, He used it in the lives of other students too.

What felt like a senseless frustration ended up being the most important part of the conference for many.

Trusting God during disappointment is powerful. It brings us peace and provides a brilliant witness to an anxious world.

Do you have a problem or disappointment weighing on you? What might happen if, by faith, you chose to thank Him before you see how He’ll use it?

I encourage you to try it. It’s not hypocritical to express thanksgiving before we feel it. It’s called obedience — In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:18 NASB).

What disappointment are you facing right now? How might giving thanks to God before you feel thankful change your perspective and prepare you for what He will do?

Debbie W. Wilson is an experienced Bible teacher and ministry leader. She enjoys equipping others in the areas of relationships, Bible study, Christian living, and discipleship. She uses Spirit-filled encouragement to inspire readers to trust God with their lives. Her latest book, Little Faith, Big God—drawing from Hebrews 11—shows readers how to live well and finish strong. Debbie enjoys dark chocolate, a good mystery, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Find resources and connect with Debbie at debbiewwilson.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Nil2Hoff at Pixabay.

"Thank God!" (Even When Life's a Struggle)

As I (Dawn) wrote this Thanksgiving UPGRADE, I was so aware of people I know who are struggling this year. How can they be thankful? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us it is God's will that we be thankful IN all things—in the midst of them—not FOR all things. (1 Thess. 5:18)

I think this is an important distinction, because frankly, sometimes life stinks. Pain. Loss. Confusion. Offenses. Desperation. Suffering.

Yet we can learn to be grateful in the midst of it all.

I remember the Thanksgiving after America’s 9-11, with the destruction of the Twin Towers and so much suffering. The grief was overwhelming.

And then stories came out that warmed my heart. People were searching for something good in all their pain.

I remember friends struggling last year in Texas with the flooding after Hurricane Harvey.

And yet some reached out to bless others. (I have a personal story of a flood “victim” who turned her loss into a victorious opportunity to help my family in another state!)

I think back to a time of deep personal pain, and how friends and family gathered around my husband and I to help us move forward in so many ways.

Their kindness helped us embrace the future, and I thank God for them.

I think about the wildfires California has experienced in recent years and especially this fall. Homes lost. Deaths. Incalculable pain. So many questions.

And then again, in the midst of calamity, stories of kindness and hope.

While I’m no Pollyanna, I do try to search for things to be grateful for when I hurt—a solidly biblical approach to life’s struggles.

I believe there are times for legitimate lament as well as celebrations.

If you doubt that, search out the Psalms of lament, or even the book of Lamentations. Part of learning to grieve well is getting a biblical perspective on all the pain. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it helps us bear up under the suffering with a sense of hope in God.

Ask God to help you see His good hand and loving heart in your circumstances.

I think this Thanksgiving Day I will meditate—as many others are this year—on some of the things we can be grateful for even when life is tough and confusing.

For that, I go to the solid, unshakeable rock of scripture.

1. "Thank God!"—He is always good. Even when life seems unbearably bad.

Psalm 31:19 - His love is abundant, stored up for those who take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8 - Taste and see ... He is good.

Psalm 59:16-17 - God is our fortress and refuge in the day of distress.

2. "Thank God!"—Our lives find meaning when we are centered in the Lord.

Philippians 1:21 - He is the center of our lives and, in Christ, even death is gain.

Philippians 3:7-8 - Even if we suffer great losses, nothing can compare to what we gain in Him.

Philippians 4:11-12 - He teaches us how to face great abundance and great need.

James 1:17 - Every good gift we have is from the Lord.

3. "Thank God!"—Even though tough things happen (because we live in a world cursed by sin), our Father has a big-picture plan of redemption.

Heb. 12:10-11 - Our most painful struggles discipline us and yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

James 1:2-4, 12 - Our trials produce steadfastness and cultivate maturity.

I Pet. 5:9-10 - We may suffer, but the God of all grace desires to restore and strengthen us.

Rom. 8:28 - He redeems His children's circumstances, creating something good.

Jer. 29:11-13 - He desires to give us a future and hope so we will seek Him with all our heart.

4. "Thank God!"—Suffering won’t last forever; but in the meantime, there are opportunities for blessing even in our suffering.

Psalm 71:20 - God will "bring us up" from our troubles and calamities.

Jer. 31:13 - God turned His people's mourning and sorrow into comfort and gladness.

1 Peter 3:13-17 - When we suffer for righteousness' sake—for doing good—God will still bless us.

5. "Thank God!"—There is always hope, because we can go through anything in the Lord's strength.

Phil. 4:13 - We can do all things—everything we need to do—through strength in Christ.

Psalm 18:28-29 - God lightens our darkness and gives us His power and strength.

6. "Thank God!"—We can experience Him—His help and healing—in His many attributes.

• His presence.
• His power.
• His protection.
• His peace.
• His loving care, understanding and compassion
• His sufficiency to meet all our needs.

One thing is certain: This side of heaven we will all face trials and struggles sooner or later.

In time, we will all feel physical, mental, emotional, social or spiritual pain at some level. 

Thank God, we can learn the truths of scripture now—to prepare our hearts for when troubles come.

Which of these "Thank God" truths can help you most today? Are there any scriptures you could memorize to "store up" for difficult times?

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is a speaker and author, and the creator the blog, Upgrade with Dawn. She is a contracted researcher/reviewer for Revive Our Hearts and a writer at Crosswalk.com. She and her husband Bob live in Southern California and have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Julie at Lightstock.