Thankful For Every Good Thing

With Thanksgiving right around the corner (at least for all of us in America), many of us are starting to remember and “count our blessings.” Though I do believe one should be thankful all year long, I must admit, at times I can really struggle with being thankful.

I tend to have a personality that looks at the “glass-half-empty” and can have a “woe-is-me” mindset to life at times. This means when difficulties comes I can be quick to complain and want to declare to the world, “I don’t deserve this!” Then a few weeks ago I was reading in Jeremiah 8 for my quiet time when I came across this verse,

"I will take away their harvest," declares the Lord, "There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them." 

I don’t know if you know the context for this verse or not, but the context is God has called Jeremiah to prophesy to the people of Israel to warn them of the coming wrath which is “stirring from the north.” This kingdom from the north is going to take over, kidnap, and almost totally destroy the people of Israel and their homeland. The verse above is simply God saying the siege on Israel will be so terrible, they won’t even have any food to eat; they will have to live in starvation.

When I read this verse, it reminded me of James 1:17 which says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above…” These two verses in James and Jeremiah made my cynical mind take a moment and think: If God can take away good gifts, then He is also therefore be the giver of all our good and perfect gifts.

Think about it: the God of the universe gives and allows me to experience good things simply because He loves me. Those good things even include the small, mundane “items” I don’t even always think about such as socks, blankets, backpacks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and being able to drive a car to take me to the places I enjoy going or that benefit me in some way (grocery store, dentist, church…etc.). I can be thankful for a T.V. and a remote that works, doors and windows on my house, and my family dogs who are cute and loved to be loved on; sunsets and sunrises that prove God’s faithfulness and He is not done with me yet.

Most importantly, I have salvation through Jesus Christ and have hope to live forever in Heaven with Him one day. I am washed; I am pure. I am forgiven. I am made holy and deeply loved by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

So, now I ask you…what are some good gifts and blessings perhaps you have been overlooking lately? Is there anything you should stop, pray, and thank God for right now?

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

Alyssa Rasor