"Someday Never Comes"
Being Thankful in All Things: A Lesson from the Storm
As the winds howled and the skies darkened, many of us found ourselves preparing for what meteorologists warned could be a once-in-a-century storm event. We filled gas tanks, bought generators, and made plans to hunker down. In those moments of preparation, an unexpected thought arose: "Will I be here tomorrow to drink this coffee I'm grinding?"
It's in times of potential crisis that we often find ourselves face-to-face with the fragility of life and the things we take for granted. As we watched the news and saw the devastation in neighboring areas - houses turned upside down, churches on fire, buses thrown into schools - a profound sense of gratitude washed over us. We were spared. But why?
The Bible reminds us in Matthew 5:45 that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Our safety wasn't because we were more righteous or prayed the right prayers. It was simply grace. And in that realization comes a powerful lesson: the importance of being thankful in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." But how often do we truly live this out? It's easy to be thankful when things go our way, when our houses are intact, and our loved ones are safe. But what about when life doesn't unfold as we hoped?
Consider Job, a man who lost everything - his wealth, his children, his health. Yet, after God reminded him of His sovereignty over creation, Job's response was humbling: "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). Job realized that there are things too wonderful for us to understand, forces of nature we can't control. The same God who tells the lightning where to strike and the clouds where to pour their rain is the God we trust in both abundance and lack.
Being thankful in all things doesn't mean we don't grieve losses or feel pain. It means we trust in a God bigger than our circumstances. It means we can say, like the prophet Habakkuk, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
Sometimes, cultivating this attitude of gratitude takes time. It's a journey, not an instant transformation. Think about those who have lost loved ones. In the immediate aftermath, thankfulness might seem impossible. But as time passes, we may find ourselves thanking God for the memories we shared, for the impact that person had on our lives, and even for the assurance of their presence in heaven.
This shift in perspective doesn't diminish our loss but adds a layer of hope and meaning to our grief. It allows us to say, "Thank you, God, for the time we had," even as we miss their physical presence.
The book of Ecclesiastes offers another profound insight into this mindset. It tells us, "If the clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie" (Ecclesiastes 11:3). This verse reminds us that we can't change the past - like a fallen tree, what's done is done. But we can choose how we respond to our present circumstances.
The passage continues, "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4). How often do we put off doing what we know we should because conditions aren't perfect? We say, "Someday, I'll serve in that ministry," or "Someday, I'll reconcile with that person," or "Someday, I'll take that step of faith." But someday never comes.
The storm serves as a wake-up call. It reminds us that life is precious and unpredictable. We're not guaranteed tomorrow, so we must seize today. Are there things in your life you've been putting off? Dreams you've shelved? Relationships you need to mend? Don't wait for someday. The time is now.
Being thankful in all things isn't just about feeling grateful when life is good. It's about cultivating a heart that trusts God's goodness even when we don't understand our circumstances. It's about choosing to see the blessings amidst the storms. It's about using our present moments wisely, knowing that each day is a gift.
As we reflect on the storms we've weathered and the ones yet to come, let's challenge ourselves to grow in thankfulness. Let's look for reasons to be grateful, not just in the big moments of deliverance, but in the small, everyday blessings we often overlook. Let's use the security we feel today as motivation to reach out to those who are hurting, to be the hands and feet of Christ to a world in need.
And most importantly, let's not put off till tomorrow what God is calling us to do today. Whether it's forgiving someone, stepping out in faith, or simply telling someone you love them - do it now. Be thankful for this moment, this opportunity, this breath.
In the end, a life of thankfulness is a life well-lived. It's a life that honors God in both the mountaintops and valleys. It's a life that finds joy not in perfect circumstances, but in a perfect Savior. So today, whatever you're facing, choose thankfulness. Choose trust. Choose to see God's hand at work, even when you don't understand. For in all things, He is good, and His love endures forever.
As the winds howled and the skies darkened, many of us found ourselves preparing for what meteorologists warned could be a once-in-a-century storm event. We filled gas tanks, bought generators, and made plans to hunker down. In those moments of preparation, an unexpected thought arose: "Will I be here tomorrow to drink this coffee I'm grinding?"
It's in times of potential crisis that we often find ourselves face-to-face with the fragility of life and the things we take for granted. As we watched the news and saw the devastation in neighboring areas - houses turned upside down, churches on fire, buses thrown into schools - a profound sense of gratitude washed over us. We were spared. But why?
The Bible reminds us in Matthew 5:45 that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Our safety wasn't because we were more righteous or prayed the right prayers. It was simply grace. And in that realization comes a powerful lesson: the importance of being thankful in all circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." But how often do we truly live this out? It's easy to be thankful when things go our way, when our houses are intact, and our loved ones are safe. But what about when life doesn't unfold as we hoped?
Consider Job, a man who lost everything - his wealth, his children, his health. Yet, after God reminded him of His sovereignty over creation, Job's response was humbling: "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). Job realized that there are things too wonderful for us to understand, forces of nature we can't control. The same God who tells the lightning where to strike and the clouds where to pour their rain is the God we trust in both abundance and lack.
Being thankful in all things doesn't mean we don't grieve losses or feel pain. It means we trust in a God bigger than our circumstances. It means we can say, like the prophet Habakkuk, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
Sometimes, cultivating this attitude of gratitude takes time. It's a journey, not an instant transformation. Think about those who have lost loved ones. In the immediate aftermath, thankfulness might seem impossible. But as time passes, we may find ourselves thanking God for the memories we shared, for the impact that person had on our lives, and even for the assurance of their presence in heaven.
This shift in perspective doesn't diminish our loss but adds a layer of hope and meaning to our grief. It allows us to say, "Thank you, God, for the time we had," even as we miss their physical presence.
The book of Ecclesiastes offers another profound insight into this mindset. It tells us, "If the clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie" (Ecclesiastes 11:3). This verse reminds us that we can't change the past - like a fallen tree, what's done is done. But we can choose how we respond to our present circumstances.
The passage continues, "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4). How often do we put off doing what we know we should because conditions aren't perfect? We say, "Someday, I'll serve in that ministry," or "Someday, I'll reconcile with that person," or "Someday, I'll take that step of faith." But someday never comes.
The storm serves as a wake-up call. It reminds us that life is precious and unpredictable. We're not guaranteed tomorrow, so we must seize today. Are there things in your life you've been putting off? Dreams you've shelved? Relationships you need to mend? Don't wait for someday. The time is now.
Being thankful in all things isn't just about feeling grateful when life is good. It's about cultivating a heart that trusts God's goodness even when we don't understand our circumstances. It's about choosing to see the blessings amidst the storms. It's about using our present moments wisely, knowing that each day is a gift.
As we reflect on the storms we've weathered and the ones yet to come, let's challenge ourselves to grow in thankfulness. Let's look for reasons to be grateful, not just in the big moments of deliverance, but in the small, everyday blessings we often overlook. Let's use the security we feel today as motivation to reach out to those who are hurting, to be the hands and feet of Christ to a world in need.
And most importantly, let's not put off till tomorrow what God is calling us to do today. Whether it's forgiving someone, stepping out in faith, or simply telling someone you love them - do it now. Be thankful for this moment, this opportunity, this breath.
In the end, a life of thankfulness is a life well-lived. It's a life that honors God in both the mountaintops and valleys. It's a life that finds joy not in perfect circumstances, but in a perfect Savior. So today, whatever you're facing, choose thankfulness. Choose trust. Choose to see God's hand at work, even when you don't understand. For in all things, He is good, and His love endures forever.
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