Why Should I Give Thanks When I Don’t Feel Like It?

by Debbie Wilson @DebbieWWilson

Exposure to mold a while back triggered some health issues in me, including ongoing fatigue that worsens in warm weather. Last year, our extended warm fall left me afraid I’d never have energy for anything again. I struggled to complete small tasks. One week, I succumbed to hopelessness.

The admonition to “always thank God for everything” doesn’t make much sense until you consider that even unpleasant experiences play an important role in God’s plan. One day I noticed how jewels are displayed against dark backgrounds to showcase their sparkle. I realized that is true for life too. Without an occasional rainy season, we take sunshine for granted. And joys taste sweeter after disappointment.

Several friends prayed for me the week my hope plummeted. Friday afternoon, the heaviness lifted. I shot off three query emails to publishers and finished preparing for an upcoming retreat. A sense of God’s presence energized me.

Thank You, Lord!

God showed His favor in special ways the following days. Two publishers asked to see my book proposal. God worked in the hearts of the women at the retreat where I taught. My daughter and I took a short trip to Boston.

A snafu in our accommodations resulted in an upgrade in our apartment size and location, and a free dinner! When it was time to fly home, I couldn’t believe it when my daughter’s favorite seafood restaurant sat in front of our boarding gate. We enjoyed a delightful lunch between tables of friendly Bostonians.

I hosted a fund-raising event for a ministry, and God moved women to support this outreach. The same evening, I received an email from a publisher offering me a contract on my book.

My son and I participated in a ministry on the University of Georgia campus. After some great conversations with students, my son had a woman pray to receive Christ with him.

All this happened in a brief space of time after months of feeling God was not listening to my prayers.

The Wisdom of Giving Thanks

Why should we give thanks when we don’t feel like it? Because…

• Thanksgiving puts our focus in the right place and opens our eyes to God’s many blessings.The time span of blessing was also filled with hiccups. The weather was cold and raining the days we met outside with students. The Boston Red Sox had just won the World Series and everyone and his sister crowded the streets we wanted to pass. The first place we’d booked to stay was unacceptable. One publisher never responded. Many students weren’t interested in hearing about Christ.
• Giving thanks demonstrates and strengthens faith. And faith, not happy feelings, pleases God (Hebrews 1:6).God rewards those who seek Him. My experience reminded me that just because I don’t see God working doesn’t mean He isn’t working. God knew the good things He had planned for me even when I felt forgotten.
• Giving thanks is good for your health.Studies have shown that thankful people are more optimistic, have lower blood pressure, and experience less stress!

November is a good month to renew the practice of giving thanks. Something as simple as listing three things you’re thankful for at the end of each day is a good start. Exercising our gratitude muscle pleases God and opens our eyes to His daily mercies.

So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants…. Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Ephesians 5:17, 20 GW

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Why Should I Give Thanks When I Don’t Feel Like It? – Insight from DebbieWWilson on @AriseDailyDevo (Click to Tweet)

About the author: Drawing from her walk with Christ, and years as a Christian counselor, coach, and Bible teacher, Debbie W. Wilson helps women give themselves a break so they can enjoy fruitful and grace-filled lives. She is the author of Little Women, Big God and Give Yourself a Break. Her latest book, Little Faith, Big God, is to be released February 2020. She and her husband Larry founded and run Lighthouse Ministries, a nonprofit counseling, coaching, and Bible study ministry. She is an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) certified speaking and writing coach. Debbie enjoys a good mystery, dark chocolate, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Refresh your faith with free resources at debbieWwilson.com.

Join the conversation: What are you thankful for today?

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Manna Mania

by Rhonda Rhea @RhondaRhea

Have you ever wondered if the Israelites ever tried to get clever with their manna? God provided them with all that miraculous food each day to keep them alive. But I do remember reading that they got a little whiny about eating the same thing day in and day out. I can picture them moaning, “Oh, the hu-manna-ty”—even though the manna must’ve been pretty sweet and tasty. Exodus 16:31 says “it tasted like honey wafers” (NLT). Add a drizzle of chocolate and it sounds perfect to me.

I wonder if they ever tried to get creative. Maybe they tried new recipes. Mannawiches, maybe?

What if they got even more clever and made it into a loaf, then added berries? Wouldn’t that make “Berry Manna-loaf”?

Would eating too much of it cause them to sing mellow songs and consider music and passion always the fashion? Perhaps they could’ve kept the showman theme, added different fruits to make other tasty treats. You know, like “Copacabana-banana-manna.” Could’ve happened, couldn’t it?

Or maybe they were just too busy whining to get creative. I would make fun of them for it, but I’m afraid there are too many times I ask God to provide and then take it for granted when he does. Or worse, I complain about the way he does it. How embarrassing to still be so quick to be full of myself instead of being full of him.

I’m so thankful our God is a God of mercy. He demonstrated it again and again with the whining Israelites. Psalm 78: tells us, “They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, ‘Can God spread a table in the desert?’ Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. They ate till they had more than enough, for he had given them what they craved. In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities.” (verses 18-19, 23-25, 30, 32, 38a, NIV).

His mercy still shows up in our every whiny inadequacy today. Even after I’ve been too shallow and full of self to recognize him and thank him, he graciously shows me mercy. And he’s faithful to continue to remind me to recognize him and to thank him and to crave his presence more than anything else. What a mighty, merciful, loving God we serve!

I think my lunchtime prayer might be a little different today. It’s very likely to be fuller than usual of thanks and praise to the merciful God who provides. And I want to crave him more than I crave lunch.

Speaking of lunch cravings, does banana bread sound especially good to you right now too?

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

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Manna Mania: Remembering to Be Thankful – @RhondaRhea on @AriseDailyDevo (Click to Tweet)

About the author: Rhonda Rhea is a TV personality for Christian Television Network and a humor columnist for great magazines such as HomeLife, Leading Hearts, The Pathway and many more. She is the author of 12 books, including Fix-Her-Upper, co-authored with Beth Duewel, and a hilarious novel, Turtles in the Road, co-authored with her daughter, Kaley Rhea. Rhonda and Kaley are also excited to be teaming up with Bridges TV host, Monica Schmelter, for a new book and TV series titled, Messy to Meaningful—Lessons from the Junk Drawer. Rhonda enjoys speaking at conferences and events from coast to coast and serves as a consultant for Bold Vision Books. She lives near St. Louis with her pastor/hubs and has five grown, mostly-coffee-drinking children. You can read more from Rhonda on her website or Facebook page.

Join the conversation: For what are you most grateful to the Lord today?