Giving Thanks in the Rain

The word gratitude is something we say so often, especially in prayer. Before writing this article, I looked up several definitions of the word “gratitude.” According to the Indonesian dictionary, gratitude is “a feeling of thankfulness to God.” It is different in the Bible. In several verses, the word gratitude is translated as “praise” in the NIV and CJBtranslations. A word that means praising, glorifying, exalting.

I then tried to look more deeply into the expressions of gratitude in my prayer . When I give thanks, have I truly praised, glorified, and exalted the Lord? I found that I often use expressions of gratitude to thank Him for every blessing that the Lord has given in my life. Beyond that, also for His accompaniment throughout the day. That is not wrong, really.. However, I began to wonder. How much do I actually praise, glorify, and exalt the Lord in my expressions of gratitude ?

As I studied the figures in the Bible, I found something that pierced me. For example, what the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 25:1.

“O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will sing praise to Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”

In his prayer, Isaiah praised, glorified, and exalted the character of the Lord. He sang that thanksgiving not only because of what the Lord had given him. The same is true of other great figures in the Bible. In his psalm David said, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God! For I shall give thanks to Him again, my help and my God!”

In the midst of his anxiety, David lifted up thanksgiving. So it was with many other biblical figures. In difficulty, in prison, while wrestling with sin, they lifted up thanksgiving. They lifted up thanksgiving because they trusted in the God who is full of love. God who never changes. The Lord who is Great, Faithful, and Holy. God who is always worthy to be thanked, praised, and glorified.

When I realized how rarely I truly lift up thanksgiving to the Lord, I began to reflect. I tried asking myself, “What is it, usually, that keeps me from sincerely lifting up thanksgiving?”

1. When I Focus Only on the Blessings, Not on the Giver of Blessings

 

I realized that, without noticing it, I more often give thanks for what I have received and what I can enjoy. My experience of suffering from depression also affected my view of gratitude. In that season, the hardest thing was to keep being able to give thanks. To deal with it, I was trained to focus on the good things I received. As a result, I gave thanks because of blessings. But is not thanksgiving actually lifted up because of the Giver of Blessings?

I realized that I need to focus on the Lord as the Giver and Provider. Not on what is given and provided. It is certainly easier to say that the Lord is good when we ourselves are also doing well. Yet I learned the true meaning of gratitude . To be able to give thanks in every situation and condition, I need to look to the Lord first. That He is the God who is always faithful to me, the God who continually watches over and protects, the God who gives life, help, and comfort.

2. When We Receive a Lot of Bad News

Many people say that everyone will go through storms of life. But what about rain? If a storm happens only once in a while in our lives, how often does rain fall? I rarely hear people complain about storms. But I often hear people complain when the rain comes. Rain can disrupt activities, make people late, and even cause more sickness to spread in the rainy season.

What are the rains in our lives? Are they failures in relationships? Difficulties at work? Conflict with a friend? Financial lack? When we see rain as bad news, we forget that it is the Lordwho sends the rain. He knows exactly why the rain comes, and we also forget that we need to give thanks in all things.

Look at Job's response when God brought not only rain, but a storm into his life.

But Job answered her, “You are speaking as one of the foolish women speaks! Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive trouble?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10)

So, how can we keep lifting up thanksgiving in the middle of the rain?

• Start by reading the Word every day, whatever the circumstances. We will come to know the person of the Lord more and more through the various seasons of our lives.
• Praise the Lord not merely because of His blessings. Lift up thanksgiving because He is the Lord, the only One worthy of praise.
• Give thanksfor everything around us, not only for what we ask for or need. I once tried listing the things I was thankful for by their initials from A to Z. It was very interesting. As I thought about it, I gave thanks for.. Water! Water is something that the Lord provides, and we cannot live without it! Be creative in lifting up your gratitude.
• Pray continually for strength from the Lord so that we may be able to lift up thanksgiving for the problems we face. Are not problems a process that can shape us to depend on the Lord more and more?

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Related Articles:

• Why, What, and How Should We Give Thanks?
• How Can We See Ourselves According to the Image of God?
• A Wife’s Gratitude Saves Her Husband
• Struggling to Be Thankful? Train Your Mindset This Way!
• 3 Reasons Being Thankful for This Small Thing Can Change Your Life. Come Read!

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