It’s hard to be thankful during bad times, but with Jesus, we can have overflowing thankfulness.
I was going through a lot of emotions when my husband forgot to bring our daughter’s stroller during our outing where we would be walking for a while. This wasn’t necessarily a hard moment, but just an inconvenience that caused me to be upset especially hearing his response to my disappointment.
I gave in to my emotions but God later reminded me that I could have allowed thankfulness to overflow into that moment of frustration. He reminded me of the recent blessings He had opened for us and the most important blessing which is Jesus Himself.
As I took time to give thanks and rejoice for His great love towards me, my annoyance left. My heart had no room for anger because thankfulness was overflowing.
Thankfulness has the power to bring you ease during hardships. It gives us the ability to see from God’s perspective and receive His supernatural joy. Whatever you may be facing, remember that Jesus has given you life to the abundance here and for eternity as you choose to live in Him (John 10:10).
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” There is no greater joy than the joy of our Salvation. There are many things we can rejoice in, but let us always rejoice IN the Lord. Our salvation in Jesus alone is great enough to stir joy and thanksgiving in our hearts through both the good and bad times.
Giving thanks during hard times is the last thing we want to do, but God calls us to give thanks in ALL circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). When we give thanks, we posture our hearts to receive His supernatural joy in the midst of our pain or disappointment.
Giving thanks postures our heart to see from His perspective and remember His great love that was shown through Jesus dying on the cross and perfecting us to have eternal life with Him.
We may be living, but are we spiritually alive? Our body may be alive but outside of Jesus, our spirit is dead because only in Jesus can we have life because He is life. We were all born into sin, causing us to be in bondage and have eternal death, but God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions (Ephesians 2:5).
This is the reality for everyone who accepts Jesus as their Savior and makes Him Lord over their life — we get to have an abundant life physically and spiritually on earth and for eternity.
May John 3:16 never lose its awe in our hearts: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
We also have the assurance that the life to come with Jesus will be a perfect place with no evil and pain. Revelation 21:4 says, “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Will you look to Jesus and give thanks no matter what you are facing today?
We are called to overflow with thankfulness. This means our thankfulness should be greater than any other thought and emotion we may have. The key to be thankful is to be rooted, built up, and strengthened in Jesus.
It’s impossible to have overflowing thankfulness in the midst of pain, anger, or disappointment, but with Jesus it is possible.
As we look to Jesus as our source of love and joy and remember His great love for us, His love and joy will fill us.
Let us never lose gratitude for what Jesus has done for us. In Him, we now have fulfillment, purpose, direction, love, and life. Will you look to Jesus daily and ask Him to establish you in His love?
So remember, overflowing thankfulness is possible with Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for what you did for us on the cross. Help us not to be ungrateful and be so caught up in our emotions that we forget the abundant life we have because of You. Even in difficult moments, may we always overflow with thankfulness.
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