"Gratitude" - Job 37

One of the primary tasks of the Church is to give praise and thanksgiving to God.  Often when things are going our way, praise and thanksgiving come quickly and easily from our mouths.  Yet the Church is not called to only be grateful on good days; we are called to give thanks and praise at all times, even, and perhaps especially, when things are not going our way.  Why should we be thankful even in difficult times?  And how might we do it?

At the end of the book of Job, after Job has complained to God about his profuse suffering, God responds to Job by directing his attention to the wonders of creation.  Job’s focus is taken away from the difficulties in his life and turned towards all of the beauty, wonder, and plenty that God has created.  Yes, Job’s suffering is real, but even in the midst of this suffering there remains so much for which to be grateful.  All that Job had, his family, his wealth, and his health, all were given to him by God.  And though he has lost a great deal, he still has his life, he is still a part of God’s glorious creation.  More than any of that however, Job still has God’s loving presence with him.  Throughout all his suffering and complaining God listened and stayed by Job’s side.

Our suffering is also real.  Yet we too, have been blessed by all that God has done.  The next time that you find yourself stewing over your problems, marinating in your own self-pity, try taking a moment to write a gratitude list.  Just write out five things in your life for which you are grateful.  This small shift of focus from self-pity to gratitude can do wonders for our state of mind.  It can remind us that even in the midst of pain and our loss, God continues to be with us and provide for us.  Giving thanks to God can lift us from our despair to hope, from sadness to joy, from doubt to faith. 

Rev. Andrew Greenhaw