THE BIBLE AND YOU
Being Thankful to God at All Times Gratitude keeps in mind God’s gifts and care for us, building our reliance on and devotion to Him. What are some of the things we should be most thankful for?
W
ith the American Thanksgiving holiday approaching, I decided to read William Bradford’s journal, Of Plymouth Plantation. In it, this governor of the Plymouth Colony shares his account of the Pilgrims’ voyage to the New World and the early years of their settlement. The Pilgrims endured many hardships. The two-month voyage aboard the Mayflower was grueling and treacherous. Many of the passengers became extremely ill with scurvy and pneumonia. In their weakened condition, they arrived at their destination right at the start of winter. The shelters they constructed did not keep them warm, and they had little food left over from their ship’s provisions. By the end of winter, disease and malnutrition had taken the lives of nearly half of the colonists. Still, they kept their focus on God and remained grateful. Bradford wrote in his journal that after disembarking from the Mayflower, “they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean.” He noted that even after all the illness and death, those who survived continued to thank God for “his loving kindness, and his wonderful works.” Their attitude exemplified the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks.” Admittedly, this verse can seem like 22
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Engraving depicting Pilgrims landing in the New World in 1620 after their long ocean voyage.
a tall order. It helps to understand that we are being exhorted not to give thanks for everything, but in or during all circumstances. God does not expect us to pretend that the trials we experience aren’t painful, or that all the troubles we’re seeing in the world are somehow positive developments. Clearly the Pilgrims weren’t grateful for the deaths, illnesses and harsh living conditions. But through all the suffering, they still saw God’s hand at work among them. For me, reading Bradford’s journal was a good reminder of the importance of continually being thankful to God, even in the face of adversity.
To sustain this mindset, we need to remind ourselves of God’s magnificent attributes, acts of love and promises, as revealed in the Bible. These are things that we can always cling to, that do not come and go depending on our personal circumstances or current events. In particular, reflecting on the following biblical truths has helped me maintain an attitude of gratitude. Jesus Christ gave His life so we might live Jesus sacrificed His life so our sins could be forgiven, making it possible for us to be reconciled to God the
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by Becky Sweat
