Thank You Lord

On Monday mornings, we often have this battle of good and bad; the joy of thinking back on what may have been a great weekend of fun or rest, combined with what may be the battle of a tough week ahead.   Or, the opposite might be true; something about the past few days may have been hard, and this morning brings some release or a moving forward.

“Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.
Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.
Thank you, Lord, for every little thing.
Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.“

Life can be full of this constant contradiction of the good and the bad, the joyful and the sorrowful.  We rarely have times when it is all of one or the other; a mix is probably more true.

“When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14)

Many people only know Bob Marley’s music as the foundation of the Reggae sound or as songs of praise for his country Jamaica.  But at a deeper level, his music provides much evidence that he was a man who had a deep love for God.  His song “Thank You Lord” is a simple song of gratitude.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9DDDj_JdMA)  But, it is not just about being appreciative of the good things, it is also about the recognition that the challenges are reasons to be thankful too.

When a painful event is freshly behind us, it is hard to be thankful for it.  I don’t mean thankful it is done; that’s easy.  I mean being appreciative of the experience and the transformation it brought.  Yes, even the rough times bring value to us.  The hard times give us perspective.  No only can they provide a way for us to appreciate the easy and good times more deeply, but the tough spots change us.

In Romans 8:18, Paul talks about a comparative nature for the challenges:

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. “

I do not think Paul means this in a way that we should just quit complaining about the times when we are experiencing pain.  He is saying that we can embrace these times, knowing that they will pass, knowing that God can and will bring glory through this momentary trouble.  Being thankful for the hard times is about taking the same frame of mind as when we pray for someone who is “persecuting” us or bringing us pain.  The world would tell us to curse and hate that person; God tells us to bless and love.

“Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.
Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.
Thank you, Lord, for every little thing.
Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.“

So, what is this Monday bringing you to be thankful for?  Is the world telling you to complain, hang your head in sorrow or lament your challenges?  Be thankful. Embrace the transformation being brought to you through the struggle.  Thank God for every little thing.