Our precious Father recently introduced me to a new friend in Christ, older and refined by many surgeries and lifelong complications. We immediately and empathetically understood one another, having walked through similar challenges in our earthly lives. We laughed, cried, shared stories, and praised the Lord together.
What was her parting encouragement to me?
Always give thanks to God daily, into suffering, for anything you can.
When emotions and pain threaten, give thanks to God for something, in that moment.
We may not feel like it emotionally, but this is God’s gift and comfort to us as we realize He’s at work in suffering’s squeeze. When we do so, we obey Him, and our Helper delights to help us walk through that moment with thankful endurance of faith.
Giving thanks in all circumstances
The Psalmists must have understood this, so let’s sing-pray Psalms together this week! It’s amazing. Nearly all of the “lament” Psalms include lyrics of praise and thanksgiving. Perhaps the Psalms could help us “interrupt” our own pains with responses of thanksgiving!
We can give thanks to God for who He is, today and forever
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever (Ps. 106:1 ESV).
When as the grass the wicked grow,
when sinners flourish here below,
then is there endless ruin nigh,
but You, O Lord, are throned on high;
Your foes shall fall before Your might,
the wicked shall be put to flight.
(“How Good It Is to Thank the Lord,” The Psalter, 1912)
We can give thanks to God for what He’s done in the past
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! (Ps. 107:8 ESV)
O Lord, with joy my heart expands
before the wonders of Your hands;
great works, Jehovah, You have wrought,
exceeding deep Your every thought;
a foolish man knows not their worth,
nor he whose mind is of the earth.
We can give thanks to God for giving us salvation through Jesus Christ, who is our only righteousness
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence (Ps. 140:13 ESV).
The righteous man shall flourish well,
and in the house of God shall dwell;
he shall be like a goodly tree,
and all his life shall fruitful be;
for righteous is the Lord and just,
He is my rock, in Him I trust.
We can give thanks to God by singing to Him, into our suffering
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving (Ps. 69:30 ESV).
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him (Ps. 28:7 ESV).
How good it is to thank the Lord,
and praise to You, Most High, accord,
to show Your love with morning light,
and tell Your faithfulness each night;
yea, good it is Your praise to sing,
and all our sweetest music bring.
A Playlist of Psalms for Thanksgiving
Do you keep a gratitude prayer journal? What a delightful way to thank God and “recount” His good gifts! Another way, especially when we walk through suffering, is to pray Scriptures back to Him. In my own times of suffering, this has been one of His great gifts.
When emotions run high because sufferings are strong, it’s helped me to pray-sing the Psalm lyrics from the songbook He’s given to us. Sometimes, pain makes it hard to find my own words of thanksgiving, but Psalm lyrics from His Word can become my words.
This week’s playlist helps us to specifically sing our thanksgiving to the Lord, using words of the Psalm songwriters, who sang thanks into their suffering moments. If your emotions are threatening to squelch your Thanksgiving season, I pray that the playlist from God’s songbook will help you to “give thanks, in all circumstances.” Sign up here if it would bless and encourage you in this hard time, dear sister in Christ.
