From the Pastor

Be Thankful!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”  (Psalm 136:1)

I love seeing secular research support a truth that God has already made known. As it turns out, being thankful isn’t just a random thing God gives us, it’s good for our health. Research from the Mayo Clinic says, “Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain, and risk of disease” (Feeling grateful improves health - Mayo Clinic Health System). They go on to say that if all these things were found in one simple pill, then everyone would be taking it! Who doesn’t want all these bad things to decrease in our life, especially in a busy season like this.

Thanksgiving is perfectly placed at the end of November, not because it’s the kick-off of the holiday season, but because it comes at a time that we need to practice gratitude the most. Thankfulness is certainly good for our wellbeing, but it’s also part of God’s desire and order in His creation. He has created us to be thankful people. Why?

God has created us to be thankful people because He has created us to be relational people. We are not to do life alone, either without God or without others. When we try, our hearts and bodies are yearning for something that we are fighting against. Thankfulness only happens in relationships. It is a practice in relational living because when you are thankful, your gratitude is being directed towards another. Thankfulness pulls us away from ourselves and leads us to acknowledge what God has done for us through His gifts and people He places around us.

Thankfulness causes us to recognize that we cannot, nor are we meant to, live this life alone. That even in our most lonely moments, there are people around us doing life with us, even if they are on the peripheries.  Even in our moments of fear, isolation, depression, stress, and anger you have the Church covering you in prayer. Even if you cannot identify someone by name who is praying for you, know that the Son Himself is praying for you to your Father-God (1 Timothy 1:5).

In all things, we give thanks to God, at the most simple level, only because He is God. “Give thanks to the Lord…” why? “…for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.” Sure, we have much to thank God for; home, family, friends, food, water, hobbies, vocations, and daily provision.  All of this though comes because He is simply the Good-God who wants to give you His goodness, and I guess there really isn’t anything simple about that!

Your challenge for November? Be thankful! Record your thankfulness. Do it as an individual or as a family, but write it down and do it all month long. Keep a thankfulness log and abide in the joy of your good-giving Father-God.

Your thankful brother in Christ,
Pastor Zach Sarrault