As we’ve been discussing in our “How Could a Good God…” series, our world is truly, dreadfully broken. While I think that it is imperative that we be honest and take a sincere look at the brokenness and pain that surround us, God doesn’t intend for us to be walking around like spiritual Eeyores!

One of the many things I love about Ecclesiastes is that Solomon deals honestly and openly with the broken state of our world, and yet he urges his readers to enjoy the good life God has given us. Throughout the book, there are some repeating phrases that you should notice. He often will say, “then I looked/ then I turned my thoughts…” and he will notice all the yuck of life under the curse in a sin-filled world. He doesn’t hide from it, he doesn’t deny it, he doesn’t pretend like everything is A-ok. But then he will shift and say, “there is nothing better…” and will admonish his readers to enjoy the small graces of life that God surrounds us with.

If you are approaching Thanksgiving with a heavy heart, consider these beautiful gifts of God’s grace that Solomon wisely instructs us to be grateful for:

•There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? (Ecc. 2:24-25)

•I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor–it is the gift of God. (Ecc. 3:12-13)

•Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecc. 4:9-12)

•Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart. (Ecc. 5:18-20)

I don’t know what your life circumstances are right now. I don’t know if you’re dealing with unemployment, death of loved ones, chronic and debilitating illness, persecution, or deep wounds from sin and injustice committed against you or those you love. Life is hard. You don’t have to pretend that it’s not.

However, true gratitude is not limited to when life is easy and beautiful and good. True gratitude comes from a deep-seated trust in God as sovereign, loving, and good – even when we don’t understand how our life is unfolding. That deep trust in His goodness allows us to recognize the good gifts that He places around us each and every day and respond to Him with thankful hearts.

• I am thankful for God’s lavish and unnecessary gifts to us that make life so sweet. I am thankful that we can smell the pungent odor of burning firewood, the sweet aroma of cranberries cooking on the stove, the smells of fall that surround us. I am thankful that we can taste – why did God make food so enjoyable to us? He made food much more than a functional to keep us alive – He made it full of smell, taste, color, texture… and gave us the senses to take it in. I am thankful that fall leaves turn a gorgeous array of colors instead of instantly turning brown and falling off the trees. God is extravagant with His good gifts – even in a fallen and broken world.

• I am thankful that God has given me meaningful work to do in my life. I am thankful that we have so many toys and clothes and so much food that it is difficult to keep everything orderly and organized. I am thankful that there are so many good avenues to minister inside and outside of my home that it is difficult to keep my priorities straight. I am thankful that my husband has work to do that challenges and engages him, even when it is stressful and draining.

• I am thankful to be married to my best friend. I am thankful that although we are walking through a valley, we are walking through it together. I am thankful for friends who listen to me and laugh with me and cry with me. I am thankful for a church family that I love and who loves us in return. I am thankful that we are far from alone. I am thankful that even when I feel alone and feel that no one understands, that God sees. God understands. He has not abandoned us – ever.

• I am thankful for the many little things that God fills my life with that I enjoy. I am thankful for hot coffee in the morning, and that even though our coffee pot is broken that I can make it with boiling water. :) I am thankful for a warm and cozy bed. I am thankful for my children’s happy chatter, even when I feel like my ears are tired of listening!! I am thankful for a beautiful and safe home that I can make warm and welcoming for those I love. I am thankful for the endless opportunities to sew, cook, craft, and produce beauty around me. I am thankful that I can read, that I own many copies of God’s Word that I am free to study and teach from, that I can write and that some are even kind enough to read what I have written. :)

Life is hard. God is good.

True gratitude is not based on the denial of the difficulties of life. True gratitude will whither away if I choose to morosely look only at those difficulties. True gratitude comes from honestly acknowledging the reality of our broken world, while finding in the midst of pain that God is good and His small graces surround us each day.

What are you grateful for today?

Give thanks to Him and praise His name – for the Lord is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5


All the posts in this series are indexed here.


Image from freefoto.com