Thanksgiving has always been one of my most favorite holidays. The beauty of it seems to be in its simplicity. You gather with family and friends. You eat more than you should, before falling asleep watching football. Who doesn’t love a day like that?
But here’s the thing. Thanksgiving this year might feel more complicated than usual. Like everything else this year, will it be, well, just not the same?
This past year has been anything but simple. If you’re honest with yourself, you might be coming into the holidays on fumes. You’re exhausted. In fact, maybe you’re not really sure how you’re going to make it to the end of 2020.
It’s in moments like these, when life gets more complicated than it should, that we should return to simple things. Many families have holiday traditions or family secrets that make things special. With that in mind, I want to let you in on a little Thanksgiving secret. It’s absolutely necessary, especially this year, to experience all that Thanksgiving has to offer.
Here’s what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
So, here’s the secret: Regardless of what you’re facing or the reasons you may have for not feeling thankful, Paul tells us to do three things:
1. Rejoice always.
2. Pray continually
3. Give thanks in all circumstances.
Did you notice the theme throughout all three? We’re supposed to rejoice, pray and give thanks all the time, no matter what we’re facing.
Now, I know that’s easier said than done. Does anyone really feel like rejoicing always right now? How about praying continually? And let’s just forget about giving thanks in all circumstances.
When life gets tough, these three things we should do, are usually the first things to go. We’d rather focus on how bad things are and take matters into our own hands, than rejoice, pray and give thanks. Maybe when life is going great, we’ll do these three things, but forget about it when life is difficult.
But it’s when life is most challenging, when you don’t think you’re going to make it another day, that’s actually the best time to rejoice, pray and give thanks. And if you do, watch what it does in your own heart and life. Notice how stress, doubt and fear are swallowed up with thankfulness.
So this year, let’s not forget that it’s called “Thanksgiving” for a reason. To truly experience Thanksgiving, we first have to give thanks. And that starts by rejoicing always and praying continually. And there you have it — the secret to Thanksgiving.
Brad LeRoy is lead pastor of Harvest Church in Mt. Comfort. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
