I recently returned from a trip to Haiti. Being there, I became keenly aware of just how blessed I am. I saw people without toilets,
no immediate access to clean water, living in huts and most with inadequate food. Yet, there were many people who still were offering praises to God.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, many people will give thanks for the good things, the things we call blessings. However, I wonder how many of
us will give thanksgiving even for our adversities.
In the text cited above, Paul and Silas have been placed in prison for helping a
demon- possessed young girl. They were beaten and humiliated; the jailer added to their suffering by thrusting them into the inner prison and made their
feet in stocks. But at midnight, even in their adversity, they gave praises and thanksgiving to God. God can give us a song in the night (Ps. 42:8).
How can we give thanks even in adversity?
First, we must recognize that adversity has a place in our spiritual development. James concludes that adversity is part of God’s perfecting process for his children
(James 1:1-5). It is almost impossible to truly thank God for being well if you have never been sick. For the children of God, there is a blessing in all things (Rom. 8:28).
Second, we must learn to thank God for the basic things of life. Paul writing to Timothy said, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim. 6:8; Phil. 4:11).
Thousand of people went to bed hungry last night. You got up this morning; you had food on your table; you had an appetite; and you had a right mind, all of these, seemingly
small things, are reasons to give thanks. Third, we must see our adversity as a means to be a blessing to others. Thanksgiving in adversity is one of the true test of our faith walk
(Gal. 2:20; Matt. 5:16). Finally, we must see our salvation as the genesis for our thanksgiving (2 Co. 9:15). We were wandering sheep without a shepherd (Eh 2:1ff).
But God, by his grace, granted us eternal life through his son (John 3:16; Rom 6:23).
This Thanksgiving, I challenge you to be thankful for all the circumstances of your life, even in adversity. Someone has aptly said, “If God promised His servants an
unbroken run of prosperity, there would be many counterfeit Christians. Don’t be surprised at famine…it is permitted to root you deeper just as a whirlwind makes the tree
grapple deeper roots into soil.” The hymn writer has declared, “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” I will be thankful, even
in my adversity.
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