Thanksgivings...

The other day I was admiring a tree on the street that had started to change colour, with beautiful orange leaves. They were bright and colourful, begging to fall and be crunched by feet. The longer I looked, the more details I noticed. Red, oranges, yellows, browns... My initial reaction was "That's so freaking beautiful, I should paint it!" Then, out of nowhere, I could hear or sense the presence of God in that instance, say something along the line of "Thank you, glad you like it too."

At the moment, things are going fairly well for me. I'm "happy" in the worldly sense of the world, things are seemingly on the right track, and I’m healthy... When we are enjoying our lives, I think its praise to God. However, I also know that I may not feel this way tomorrow. I might be hurting or sad, under-the-weather... Tomorrow may bring something tragic or unjust my way. I'm slightly concerned how I will act then... I struggled so long with struggling, and then had to really work to get things going okay, and, now I'm worried about what will happen when things aren't going perfectly. How will I act? When things are going well, I remember to thank God for beautiful flowers, a cozy bedroom I share with a wonderful sister, my amazing friends, Jesus, etc., but sometimes, when the pain is strong and the going is though, I don't really feel like doing those things. In fact, I don't even think about it at all.

It's so much easier to be thankful when things are going pretty well. However, there is so much heartache and pain in this world, it would not be wise to forget that struggles exist, and we also need to be prepared for the hard times--not prepared in that we know they will come, but prepared in that we know what to do when they come. James 1:2 says,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds

Is that how we typically feel when our lives are in a mess and our world is crashing down around us? I know I don't. So then, how do we do that? How are we supposed to be joyful when going through struggles? I think part of the answer is to be honest with ourselves and with God. The pain is real, and it sure-as-heck hurts. The worst is that sometimes it feels as though there is no purpose behind the pain. I believe (at least I think I do...) that there is a purpose even to the seemingly pointless pain... Perhaps this pain is actually a perfect opportunity to give glory to God. I think of Job, and what Satan said about him... "Job only prasies you (God) because things are going well with him! Take it all away, and see how he will curse you." When things are going badly for us, and we find the strength in us to still praise our Father, I believe this is what brings Him great glory. I think, if we remember glorifying God, it will be a little easier to "thank god in all things".

Happy Thanksgiving!