Thanksgiving is coming, and we should be counting our many blessings with gratitude. The gifts of family and friends, of feasting and fellowship, of faith and freedom should be celebrated.
Sometimes counting our blessings is easy. But how do we count blessings when life seems headed down a dark, dead-end road?
What about the 15 million of us who are out of work, or the 25 million who suffer from chronic and disabling conditions? What about the nearly 1 million families who will experience divorce this year, or the more than 600,000 who are homeless? For these and for many others, being told to count your blessings can be cold comfort.
Everyone should be able to find something to be thankful for, but in the midst of human suffering it can be hard to be grateful. Yet the Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 wrote "in everything give thanks."
In everything? No matter what? How can we give thanks in everything?
The key to being thankful is to trust as Paul did that "for those who love God all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28).
This does not mean that we ignore real pain or pretend that evil doesn't exist. It means that God is able and willing to bring good out of every situation, no matter how terrible.
Through Jesus Christ, God has redeemed all our suffering. While our circumstances might not change, we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. God does not make us suffer "for our own good," but through Christ there is no suffering that will not bring us good. So yes: In everything, give thanks.
THE REV. ED REES IS THE PASTOR OF ST. ANDREW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AUGUSTA.
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Good Word Rev Rees. It is also important to discourage satan by not giving him the reaction he wants to see. Satan only has so many demons and they can't be in two places at once. He is seeking whom he can destroy. That means he can't destroy us without our help. When we have trouble we need to discourage satan at every turn. For example; everytime he steals your money give more away to God's work. When you are sick spend your down time praying for others who are sick. In other words, become a problem for satan.