Lessons in Gratitude: Even in Struggle, We are Thankful

Right now, I am transitioning into a life of ministry, and have found a role model in Corrie Ten Boom. Following her time in a German concentration camp, she spent the next 30 years travelling all around the globe at the direction and bidding of God. She often called herself a “tramp for the Lord”. I am inspired not only by her utter trust in God, but also by her extreme examples of faith and her openness to discovering gratitude in the most unlikely places.
When World War II broke out, Corrie was 50 years old and unmarried, living with her family in Haarlem, Holland. As the Nazi aggression trampled Europe, the Ten Boom’s hid Jewish friends and neighbors in their home for several months, enduring fright, raids and threats from Nazi power. Eventually, they were discovered and the Ten Boom’s were arrested for their compassion. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were sent to Ravensbruck, a women’s concentration camp. They were placed in Barracks 28, their dank, crowded, smelly and flea-infested home for the next several months. Corrie told her sister that she didn’t know how she could cope with such a terrible place, but Betsie reminded her that God had already given them the answer in their Scripture reading that morning in 1 Thess 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Corrie and Betsie began an exercise in thankfulness, despite their terrible circumstances. Corrie said that she was thankful that they were together. Betsie chimed in that she was thankful that the Bible that Corrie smuggled into Ravensbruck, on penalty of death, was not found. Corrie added that she was thankful that the barracks were crowded, so that more women would hear the word of God when they read it aloud.
However, there was one thing that Corrie could not reconcile, saying, “I just can’t thank God for the fleas”.
The women were forced to work long and grueling days and the food was meager at best. When they returned to Barracks 28, Corrie would read aloud from the Bible while a lookout watched for guards. As the days went on, no guards were coming by Barracks 28, so Corrie and Betsie grew bolder and began reading from the Bible twice daily. Weeks later, Betsie overheard some guards talking that no one wanted to patrol Barracks 28 because of the fleas. Corrie laughed, “All right Lord, thank you for the fleas!”
Although Corrie’s faith and gratitude seems an unachievable attitude, I am encouraged by her example in my own life when far smaller trials have become joy-stealers when I fail to see the gratitude in front of me. To “rejoice always and pray continually” seem like tall tasks, but to “give thanks in all circumstances” seems almost insurmountable. Paul is not suggesting that we mask our true emotions with a fake Christian smile and pretend that nothing is wrong. Rather, we acknowledge that we are in a tough spot and focus on those circumstances in which we can be authentically grateful.
Many years ago, I had a cancer scare. As I was awaiting the test results, the hours became days and my fears began to increase. In the midst of this waiting, I handed over the whole situation over to God; my health (good or bad), the needs of my family, and even the possibility of death. Whether or not my test results were positive, I knew I had much to be grateful for, and focused on God’s love and provision.
Paul does not say, “Give thanks FOR all circumstances”. He says “Give thanks IN all circumstances”. There is a big difference between the two. If we were to be thankful FOR all circumstances, then our prayers would sound like, “Dear God, thank you that I just received a cancer diagnosis.” There’s no authenticity in that! Rather, knowing right where we are emotionally and physically, God desires us to pray,
“Lord, thank you that you are with us in the midst of this cancer.”
“Thank you God, that you are much BIGGER than cancer.”
“Thank you Lord, that you promised to never leave or forsake us”; this became my personal mantra as I waited for the cancer test results to come back.
Our prayers reveal that we have put our faith and trust in a God who transcends our circumstances, and wants only good for us, in spite of what we may be experiencing.
The New York Times published an article in November 2011 that said: “Cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” has been linked to better health, sounder sleep, less anxiety and depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinder behavior toward others.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/science/a-serving-of-gratitude-brings-healthy-dividends.html) Gratitude and thankfulness are themes that carry throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praise of your name, O Most High.” (Ps 9:1-2)
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. Oh Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever.” (Ps 30:11-12)
“So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
Gratitude is God’s practical antidote to unhappiness. God desires a joyful and fulfilled life for us and He knows that apart from Him, we will not find what we are seeking for. When we keep our mind focused on gratitude and drawing closer to God despite the trials we face, we find ourselves growing more intimately connected to Jesus. The esteemed Rev. Charles Spurgeon summed it up this way:
“When joy and prayer are married their first born child is gratitude.”
Fill the blank, “Thank you God, that you are much BIGGER than _____________.”
Thanking the Lord in my struggles of my mess, not easy, but I do Thank Him and Praise Him. Break through one day. Psalm 51
thank lord to help us in all event,amen
amen
Thank You for being with me during my struggles . Without You in my life Lord, I couldn’t make .
Thank You for being with me during my struggles . Without You in my life Lord, I couldn’t make .
like
Amen!!
Amen!!
amen
amen
one of my favorite scriptures because it reminds to think what has done and what he can and will do that helps me be thankful in all struggles
amen…..
Getting stronger while holding up the shield of faith.
Amen!
AMEN!
Wording can be misinterpreted so often. God bless
shalom.
This is so true. A friend told me one time, I will NOT give thanks to God for abuse I have been through. I said, no, where did you get that from, she said the BIBLE.. I said, that is wrong, do not give thanks For all circumstances, but give thanks in all things.. and you know what it means in that verse, it means the will of God is thanks, and gratitude and praising Him… that is what is required. People overlook that.. He said praise/gratefulness that is the will of God concerning you.
Thant’s very true that Paul didn’t say that – thanks for pointing this out!!
❤ Love ancd Light ❤
Adversity
Very well put, we need the word of God taught and understand from Gods input, not mans.
me
me
ME AND MY WORLD
the world @ its problems love nette
Anyone of my problems, struggles or upsets in my life.
my earthly fears and trials
My problems
My problems
any problem
this life
cancer
failed relationships
Everything
Gratitude knowing that God has plans for us, and they are good!
EVERYTHING!
anything i can think of!!!!!
everything
And God doesn’t say BE thankful. He says GIVE thanks. When we choose to GIVE thanks and be obedient, even if our feelings aren’t up to the task, it is truly amazing how our spirits will follow along. His peace flows as we make the choice to obey. And because God inhabits praise, His power is released in our lives when we praise Him.
me
everything
everything
ALL MY PROBLEMS!
ALL MY PROBLEMS!
The storms of life
anything or any one!!
Need to do this every day of our lives!
Amen
Amen
amen
amen
Life itself!!
Life itself!!
Anything or Anyone
yes
amen
so true, with out God I would fall apart, thanks for sharing.
Paul is one I want to talk to in Heaven
Yes, I was thinking today, in all of my unhappiness with people, or lack of good, that I am happy I do not have a needle stuck in my arm. Never did, never will.
This is so true. Wording is so important. We aren’t thankful to be in a storm, but we are thankful that we know who’s in control & that He loves us.
TRUE AMEN
surely my human/flesh side of my life has not lived up to the expectations of its’ worldly desires..and often my spiritual side has not been as GOD would most be happy to see it to be..but I am here for the will of God..not my will….I truly believe the word of GOD…and I pray often he will help me become more in line with his will….sure I struggle…I often spend more than I get in income (sometimes out of necessity for food/clothes/living expenses) and sometimes from just being human…what I do know is although I am in debt..have few real possessions, and am in my mid life years….what i do know is that I have been given every year of this life…children that I believe will do well as Christians…a family that has helped me often, although we may often disagree….and that even if everything that I still call my life is taken away tonight…I was still given everything that was my life up til today..THANK YOU JESUS..>THANK YOU GOD…THANK YOU FOR SALVATION AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN BLESSED UPON ME THROUGHOUT THIS ROLLERCOASTER LIFE OF MINE..that hopefully has been in some way helpful to GODs divine plan for all people…:))
just do it!
anyway
Yes i do especially lately.
Always
Thank you for everything Lord
Thank YOU JESUS. I love YOU sooo much!
Amen
amen
Amen
Amen
AMEN
yes I do 🙂 🙂
Never, I am so thankful that I can’t even have a REAL relationship with another human being, they think I have motives! God loves me n spite of them!!!! Hahaha
Thank you Lord!
Sounds like a quote from Corrie ten boom, she and her sister betsy learned to be greatful for the fleas in the harsh surrounding s they were in so they could share the gospel,’ The hiding place”, a very worthwhile read.
amen
Yes and thank you for saving me dear Lord.
amen
Amen
Yes Amen!
Amen he is so great in my life am blessed
I love my Creator, Lord, Jesus, every day.
but not for fleas.
Amen
No fleas in Vegas!
Grateful is not a big enough word for how I feel about everything the Lord has done for me. He watches over me and my family and blesses me everyday. Thank You Lord.
Thank you JESUS.
Amen
AMEN …… Beautiful
Amen!!
Justified is not complicated if you are a Christian. It is Just if I had never sinned. That is what God says when we ask Him to forgive us ~ justified – just if i had never sinned. He forgives us.
King of kings, majesty,
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest friend,
Strong Deliverer, Beginning and End:
All within me falls at your throne.
Your Majesty, I can but bow;
I lay my all before you now.
In royal robes I don’t deserve,
I live to serve your majesty.
Earth and heaven worship you
Love eternal, faithful and true.
Who bought the nations, ransomed souls;
Brought this sinner near to your throne:
All within me cries out in praise!
superb machiiiiiiiiiiii
Amen
<3
Amen
Job is my hero
It’s always the commitment of the elderly in the chuch. They have stood faithful thru all trials without wavering. I Love their example and friendship. AMEN!
AMEN
Amen
Praise God our Father
AMEN
I think of Joshua and his faith that helped him get the Israelites into the Promised Land now that’s what you call a task!
AMEN
The sun coming up in the morning, the stars at night. everything that has life. God is still in control.
Praise God, Amen!
AMEN!!! JESUS!!!
AMEN
Amen
Job…he loses ALL even his health and he refuses to blame The LORD and by his faith, he receives EVERYTHING back.
God inspires me!!
My family Jesus. god for Forgivness
amen
Jesus!!!
Amen.
amen. all of those in bible, especially My Jesus.
Job
AMEN !
Amen!
Job in the Bible reminds me of my trials with Mutiple Scelrois ,Praise ,God and Jesud Amen
Oh my our scripture God gave us tonight at intersession group at church was Dan 1:17 about Hanna birthing Samson through prayer.
Job, if he could do it anyone can..
o/
amen
AMEN
amen
Just by looking out the window!!
Amen!
AMEN
So many scriptures that remind me of His Love for us – Ephesians 2: 4 “But because of His great Love for us, God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ, EVEN when we were dead in transgressions – it is by Grace we have been saved . . . for it is by Grace you have been saved – through faith – and not that of yourselves – it is the gift of God – not by works – so that no one can boast.” – – – Romans 8: 38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor ANY powers – neither height nor depth, nor ANYTHING else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the Love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
FOLLOWING Jesus is inspiring, he is Amazing Love , by his grace we shall live.
Claro que si!
From our knees begging for Gods mercy
AMEN
Our Captain and Mrs, Darner from the Salvation Army in Piqua, Ohio
I mean Captain and Mrs. Dolder
JESUS.
I woke up ty god
I thank God for what I can see.
For everything !
Amen
I thank Him for every thing!!!!!! Couldnt breath with out Him!
I praise Him for perfect health and dreams that come true
For Who He is…..
I can walk without pain.
a lot.
Amen
Cancer-free
Amen
For all my friends
For Today.
I woke up tp beautiful day & spent time out thinking of being positive thought even though it was hard
He woke me up to anotherday to be with family and friends
Praise God for every thing He has given me from the beginning yo the end. Have eternal life with Him.
For my life
For everything he givesme and my family!
EVERY GOOD THING
Life!
Everything I today enjoy!!!!
Amen!!
very thing
Everything.
Eternal Life !
LORD God ALMIGHTY I praise Your name hallelujah.
I thank God for everything. Thank you for your Word.
for helping me get rid of a stress problem I had everyday,thank you god
and the fact that my girls and grandchildren will be at my house Christmas day to have dinner with me..
For everything good in life!
EVERY THING
I have health, family friends and a wonderful savior
ilove rheee dear savior
For all His countless BLESSINGS each and everyday. Thank you Lord and all PRAISES to You.
i kneel to you o Lord…thank you…
Everthing
… for his precious Love for us … and the opportunity to celebrate the Life of His Son Jesus another year … for 4 more “gift projects” finished with grandchildren (for their parents) … for a good sized splinter that came out of another grandaughter’s leg… and for another day of safe journeys for my children, and their children, and for feeling safe, warm and peaceful as I lay down on a soft, warm place to rest my head (my home) … and all my Loved ones … I thank Him so very much
AMEN
Amen!
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amén
Lord thank you for teaching me how to pray while I walk.