Gratitude In The Storm
a Biblical case for being thankful in the valley of the shadow of Death
This is part of an old Humanities essay. Hope you enjoy!
It’s Thanksgiving. Which means every YouTuber, social media star, podcaster, blogger, and public figure in the country is talking about how to be thankful for what you have. At least, if you’re lucky enough to find those. Some are just stuffing their face with turkey and screaming at a TV set. But at least the normal ones (with some exceptions) are just repeating the same old things:
Be thankful for your family & friends.
You’re blessed way more than you realize. (Side note: I’d love to ask a non-Christian at some point, blessed by whom??)
You need to take a moment to pause and recognize your blessings.
And a thousand more generic truths.
These are all true. And good. And great to be reminded of. As we go into the holiday season, we do need to be able to lift our eyes to the heavens and thank the Lord for His many, many blessings upon us. We don’t deserve anything at all, and yet we receive everything. He is a King we commit treason against on a daily basis, yet He forgives us every time. As children of the Lord, our betrayals are immediately forgotten. Our sins are erased the second they are committed.
Keep in mind how this points back to Jesus. He died on the cross, and made forgiveness possible. However, so many never have, and will never have this blessing, simply because they refuse to accept it. I’m reminded of the image of the man in Pilgrim’s Progress, in Interpreter’s house, who is scrabbling around among the straw, searching for treasures, but is so absorbed in looking for them and never finding them that he never looks up and sees the angel patiently standing above him holding more treasure than he could ever imagine. This is those who ignore Christ.
So that is something to be thankful for. Forgiveness. Arguably the biggest and most important thing to be thankful for.
There are a thousand other things, though. I mentioned a few already. Family, friends, warmth, light, water, bread, a roof over your heads, the ability to call 911 and have trained rescue professionals at your door in minutes—the list goes on, and on, and on. His blessings are steadfast and faithful, and they are new every morning.
But let me ask you something else. Something new.
Should we thank God for the darkness? Should we thank Him for the times in our life we were beaten so far down, that we could barely stand? Should we thank him for the tragedies, the trials, the tribulation? Is He with us even then, in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death?
My answer to you, this Thanksgiving day, is yes. He was there yesterday, He is there today, and He will be there tomorrow. Though the oceans rise, though the mountains fall, though the tyrants reign and the dragons come. He is there by your side through it all.
And that, in & of itself, is enough to be thankful for.
But there’s more. Should we thank God for the tribulation itself? To this I will answer simply, yet very effectively:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” - James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Part of being joyful is being thankful for everything you have. In fact, I would suggest that thankfulness is actually the root of contentment & joy. And according to James, we should literally be joyful when we are in the midst of trials. So we start by being thankful and realizing that no matter what, He is with us, and He will never abandon us.
I suspect the reason James mentions being joyful is partly because of the countless promises made in 1 Peter, and elsewhere in the Bible.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” - 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Even if we do go through trials that shatter and destroy us, mentally, physically, and emotionally, God has promised to restore it all. And He has proven His ability to do so. He spoke, and Lazarus was raised. He willed it, and the Son of Man ascended from the Pit. What Jesus did on the cross was (literally & figuratively) conquer Death. Think about that for a second. Death used to be the one thing Satan could hold over our heads, and now, Death is on a leash. It has a master, and its master is Christ. The same Christ who endured over six hours of some of the most excruciating, blinding, unbearable pain and shame and misery—for you!!
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
So Christ has the ability to restore, a thousandfold over, anything lost here. And He has promised to. Our broken, mangled, twisted bodies will be made new. Our minds will be refreshed and put to ease, all trials forgotten. We will finally be at rest.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28 (ESV)
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10 (ESV)
We are to be tested by fire in this life. We know that much. But we also know that if we persevere to the end, glory is ours.
So my charge to you, Christian, is as follows:
Today, be thankful for your tribulation. Be thankful for your hardship and your trials. That is not an easy task. But…a possible one. And always remember, your trials and tribulations are not the end—they are just a slight hitch (compared to what’s in store for you in Heaven), before true Life even really begins.
“So beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV)
I hope this was encouraging! I’d love to hear any thoughts you had on it. You can message me by clicking the button below, or replying in the comments section :)
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone 🫡
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