Giving thanks when a loved one dies is one of the most difficult circumstances in which to display “An Attitude of Gratitude.” This certainly was the dilemma for me at age twelve when my father died and now for so many during this Pandemic of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Many, including me, have misinterpreted this verse by thinking we are to give thanks “for” all circumstances rather than “in” all circumstances. I certainly could not give thanks “for” my father’s death but I could give thanks “in” his death confident at that young age that he had gone on to be with the Lord and that God would take care of his family left behind. In retrospect, “in” his death I was indeed grateful to God “for” terminating the suffering that he had valiantly endured.
In my search for a Bible character that epitomizes An Attitude of Gratitude in troublesome circumstances, Job was selected. He suffered the devastating loss of his property, wealth, children, health, and the support of his darling wife but still “maintained his integrity”
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:9-10 (NIV)
So often our natural reaction to disaster is similar to Mrs. Job’s and some even blame God and walk away from the faith, because the last thing we want to do is give thanks to God. But I am so thankful for Job’s experience and golden nuggets which motivates me to emulate him when I am struggling to maintain An Attitude of Gratitude.
1) Give thanks even if you have everything taken away from you.
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1: 20-22 (NIV)
2) Give thanks/ Hope in God even if He slays you.
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
Job 13:15 (NIV)
3) Give thanks even when tested, you will come forth as gold.
10 But He knows the way that I take;
Job 23:10 (NIV)
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
My prayer for us as we enter this Thanksgiving and Christmas Season with the lingering COVID–19 virus which has transformed our normalcy, is that we will be faithful to “Giving thanks to God in all circumstances”.
Even in times of trouble let’s be reminded that Job got “double for his trouble” and that “Trouble Don’t Last Always”