Thanksgiving Day 10 – Thanking God For The Hard Times

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

The truth is we all do go through hard times. Some times or will some time. Sometimes it may not be a that difficult issue but a messed up the moment when things don’t go according to our plans. At such times the last thing on your mind is to give thanks.

It is those moments that you raise questions like – Why should I be thankful while I am going through all these problems? When things are not working out right for me, and it seems, the more I try, the more it gets worse, and someone is saying give thanks. “To who.?” (I bet some people will not catch the joke here. You cannot, if you have not seen 90 days fiancee on TLC. 😄) And For what?  No way, I cannot. I don’t feel like it. Those lines of thoughts brought afresh to my mind a  memory of a lady who came to my home church several years ago, and while everyone was dancing and rejoicing on a day marked out for special Thanksgiving to God. She stood, staring at everybody indifferent and discouraged. On being approached, as to why she was like that, she blurted out, Why should I praise God when I have tons of troubles? With empathy, we encouraged her by explaining to her the power of praise in adversity (2 Chronicles 20; Ps. 149)

We are advised by Apostle Paul to give thanks regardless of our circumstances. You can call that “sacrifice of praise” or “regardless” praise (Heb.13:15; Hab.3:17-19)

Why should You Be Thankful?

🔥God is working on your case, perfecting circumstances in your favor and also perfecting His character in you. That was what God did in Joseph while everyone else were seeing hardship-

Joseph had to ensure hardship until his period of testing is over
Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him.

Ps.105:19 (Read 16 -22)

🔥Trust that God has a plan for your hardship- lesson to learn, strength to build. His ways are never our ways but always backed by good thoughts (Isa.55:8-9)

🔥 Trust that your trial is a platform for God to spring forth a testimony in your life for your good and to His glory (Rom. 8:28). Don’t truncate the process. James aptly captures that process –

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

James 1: James 1:2-4

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

God is turning your famine into a feast.

So it has been messy, it has not been easy, but right I was hoping you could stop and sing along with William Murphy or Tasha Cobbs, Praise Is What I Do

YOUR DIFFICULT SITUATION IS NOT TO DESTROY YOU BUT TO BRING THE BEST OUT OF YOU.

Damola Treasure Okenla

Job was a man who trusted God in adversity, and eventually, God came through for him. This song,” EVEN IF YOU SLAY ME coined out one of his statements by Deborah Enenche, has recently become one of my favorites (Job 13:15-18;19:25)

PRAY

Father, I praise You for the hard times and the good times because nothing is strange or surprising to You. I surrender myself to You; please help me through it all, and at the end of this, let me come shining as a bright star with all glory to you.

Building Up Your Tenacity
it is from a battle that a powerful and tenacious character is shaped and built.

Stability comes from being steadfast and consistent.

Therefore tenacity is needed for your journey. Don’t ever give up—keep the battle!

Answer These Questions
When was the last time you wanted to give up, and how did you overcome that?


Do you see yourself as a relentless person?


What does your resolution look like today?