We celebrated Thanksgiving with my son and his wife the weekend before the holiday is usually celebrated—and carried on the tradition of going around the table, each person declaring one thing for which they were thankful.  The biggest challenge, of course, is deciding which one thing to share—I have so many reasons to give thanks!

I continued to think about this because my thankfulness came from a much deeper place than my words could communicate.  I have three healthy children who, with their families, love Jesus and are committed to serving him.  My oldest son recently returned safely from Afghanistan and we were sitting at the dinner table with him.  God has always faithfully provided for all of our needs and many amenities that make our lives very comfortable.

Yet sometimes uncomfortable situations challenge not only our faith, but also our thankfulness—for instance, not having a home for a month and a half, staying with friends and family, travelling across the U.S. with a 3-year old in the car and spending much more time than I really want to think about in hotel rooms.  …then discovering that my car registration was missing when I tried to follow my daughter onto a military base, moving into a home without the spacious bedroom/office that I had before (and still waiting for our household goods and furniture to arrive), without the freedom to come and go as I please (partially relating to my car registration issue)—being not only physically disoriented but also spiritually disoriented, because quiet time is not easy to come by in these circumstances!

I think most of us are so settled into our safe, predictable lives that when we are faced with major life changes, it is difficult to remember that we are not here by accident and definitely not alone in facing the uncertainties that arise each day—however, our Father promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us.   I also appreciate the upheaval our military members face every few years—when they settle into a home and community, create friendships and forge life and faith affirming relationships, only to have to begin again in unfamiliar climates (in communities, in churches, and in regards to weather).

How do we walk through the difficult times, particularly when the sense of God’s presence eludes us? –the same way we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior—by faith, with thanksgiving.  “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6).

How do we work through those times when God does not answer our prayers in the best possible way or timing we think necessary? –with rejoicing!  “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6, 7).

If I consider all of the circumstances I have petitioned the Lord to arrange or things that I have asked Him to provide, nothing comes close in value to the peace I have in Jesus.  He promises, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).  The peace God provides is dependent on our relationship with Jesus, not on our circumstances, or the lack (or abundance) of possessions.  The peace He offers is beyond comprehension in the midst of the pain, the conflicts and turmoil of life.  When peace doesn’t make sense, the Holy Spirit is present in our hearts, gifting us with His priceless fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23).

We also have a responsibility to preserve peace in our hearts—Jesus instructs us, “let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”.  The apostle Paul teaches as a facet of spiritual warfare, “we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).  In doing so, we change our status from victim to victorious when the enemy assaults our faith in the goodness of our heavenly Father and confidence in His Word.

Unshakable gratitude and thanksgiving is anchored in God’s love for us, demonstrated on a cruel cross—we look to the past to recognize not only the hope we have for the present but also our future.  So “let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2).