Give Thanks!

Last minute shopping at the store, you lay all the items out on the table, and try to figure your preparations for Thanksgiving dinner.  This is the last thing you want to be doing.  You’d rather climb into bed under the covers and watch an old time goodie on the TV. Wouldn’t that be a nice distraction?  This would certainly take your mind off of the reality that you have a broken child and you don’t know how to fix them as you get through the holidays.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says,  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Did God truly understand how hard it is to rejoice and be thankful with a teen or young adult in crisis?  Did God get the memo that we are tired, weary, and hurting over our wayward child?  Does He comprehend the magnitude of the pain we as parents have suffered because of the destructive choices our kids make?

Now certainly God is not asking us to have frozen smiling faces throughout the day.  However, we are not to look sullen and depressed when God has our back and is looking out for us.  He cares about our every worry, fear, sadness, and other emotions we are feeling at this time.

Jesus knows about the ills of our teen or young adult. This is why God wants to carry our burdens and encourages us to find joy in His presence.  By praying continually, our communication of intimacy with the Lord is what gives us the strength, peace, and comfort during our trials with our children. That is where we find His faithfulness too.  As I awoke this morning I began to sing the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see.  All I have needed thy hand hath provided.  Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto thee. (Hymn by Thomas Chisholm)

So today, remember God’s goodness for what He has done for you and what He will continue to do.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stacy Lee

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash