More Thoughts on the Therapy of Thanksgiving

How can you and I be thankful in the midst of a pandemic or cancer
or any number of very hard and painful events in our lives?

More Thoughts on the Therapy of Thanksgiving

"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(Ephesians 5:20)

It is very clear in this biblical text that we are commanded by God to be thankful always, and in case we missed it the first time, Paul repeats it for us: "for all things". You are in one of three possible places in your life right now: things are going great, things are pretty tough, or you are just so-so, hanging in there, not experiencing anything terribly exciting or terribly bad. As followers of Jesus, it is God's will and a sign of us being filled with the Holy Spirit when we give God thanks in every situation in which we find ourselves.

How can you and I be thankful in the midst of a pandemic or cancer or any number of very hard and painful events in our lives and the lives of others? When Scripture commands us to give thanks at all times, it is not a flippant "thanks" where you do not really mean it. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Bible states, "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Scripture clearly commands us to give thanks in everything at all times (present active imperative verb). Being thankful in every situation is not easy, and it takes faith, but it is a wonderful way to live. I think it is the key to living a blessed and prosperous life.

As the title of today's and Monday's devotion suggests, it is actually therapeutic to be thankful. Liz Connor, in the Evening Standard, a London based periodical, writes:

The practice of 'gratitude' or 'thankfulness' promises to combat depression, increasing wellbeing and happiness, while opening our eyes to all the positive factors that are already around us.

What is gratitude therapy?

To put it simply: gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what you have - as opposed to a consumer-driven emphasis on what you want.

The therapy is the act of thoughtfully reflecting on the aspects of life that bring great joy, causing feelings of gratefulness, rather than the insatiable longing of what's just out of reach. By practicing awareness of the positive things in life, we fight off the brain's natural tendency to scan for and spot the negatives.

The practice is getting a great deal of attention as a facet of positive psychology: Studies show that we can deliberately cultivate gratitude, and can increase our well-being and happiness by doing so. In addition, gratefulness - and especially expression of it to others - is associated with increased energy, optimism, and empathy.

How can I practice it?

The easiest way to jump on board with the trend is to keep a daily gratitude journal.

(Source.)

I am currently praying for many who are battling cancer. One of these families is the Snyirs in Virginia. Tom's 16 year-old daughter, Katie, has brain cancer. She is in a fierce battle. Of course, Tom and his family are not thanking God for cancer, but I know they are thanking God in the midst of cancer, grateful for their family, a wonderful church home at Liberty Baptist Church, and friends praying for them all over the world. They are thankful for the peace God is giving them in the midst of one of the most painful trials anyone could go through. Let us all learn from the Snyir Family and be thankful to God, no matter what.