Trials into Thanksgiving

Trials into Thanksgiving Written by Abby Ciona Sometimes, what I’m thankful for one day, I complain about the next. One morning, I’m celebrating sunny weather, but the next, I’m complaining about the heat. On Friday, I’m grateful that we finally have rain for the farmers, but Saturday, I’m hoping the rain stops, so I can do things outside. I get excited at the first snowfall of winter, but after a few weeks, I’m cold and wish spring came sooner. Our thankfulness is often based on superficial things: when we get what we like or things go according to our plans. But it’s hard to feel thankful when we’re lacking or facing uncertainty. How can we choose to be thankful through undesirable circumstances? In the Bible, Paul, a follower of Jesus, experienced incredibly difficult things (he compiled an impressive list of sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). And yet, even while in jail for being a Christian, Paul wrote the encouragement to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).  Paul absolutely had hard times. Yet he knew, since he had Jesus, he had all he truly needed. He recognized that contentment in all circumstances came not from his own strength but from finding strength in Jesus.