Learning the proper use of nouns and verbs in English class comes easily for most fifth graders. Spot jumped. Jane ran. Jack laughed. Easy peasy, right? Yet, throw in a few adjectives, adverbs, and some pesky prepositions, and watch things get a little squirrely. That is until you remind them that a preposition is merely anything a squirrel can do to a woodpile. He can go in it, around it, over it, beneath it, behind it, before it, through it, well … you get the idea. It’s all about the relationship between the noun and the other element in the phrase. Identifying prepositions becomes easier the more you pay attention to them.
Christians trying to live godly lives can chase rabbits around Scripture and often miss the meanings of strategically placed prepositions purposely packed with power. Take 1 Thessalonians 5:18, for example: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Paul isn’t telling Christians to be thankful for every circumstance; he’s telling them and us to be grateful in every circumstance. That’s a huge difference!
Paul had learned to be content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. He knew his strength came from the relationship he had with the Lord. (Philippians 4:11-13) Neither Paul nor us can escape the squirrely things in life. However, those chaotic circumstances allow us to deepen our relationship with the One who modeled perfect joy and peace while in the biggest struggle of all time. Jesus knew the horror of the scene He was about to step into. His humanity was not grateful for it, but He remained thankful in it. He understood the far-reaching, eternal results.
Like many of you, I stood on the sidelines several years ago, watching my mother’s memory fade. My days were spent organizing medicine, monitoring her finances, making trips to various doctors, and reprogramming her phone, computer, and television. Truthfully, it got the best of me. Yet, that season nurtured a relationship with Jesus I’d never known. It became more personal, sweeter, and comforting. It also taught me that laughter is so much better than crying. Mom and I laughed at many things and sang in the car at the top of our lungs. Now that she’s gone on to be with the Lord, those memories still linger and bless me in countless ways.
It took getting past that season for me to realize those blessings. Now, I can fully trust God’s ability to see me through whatever comes my way. There will no doubt be more difficult days ahead for which I will not be thankful, but I feel empowered to remain grateful in them, keeping my eyes open to their blessings.
For the past few months, I’ve witnessed God perform a miracle of joy and peace in the life of a friend with Stage IV cancer. She has already learned to focus on the blessings of difficult days. While enduring the throes of physical and emotional pain, her gratitude level continues to soar. She is certainly not grateful for cancer but offers many thanks in her struggle with it. Does she sometimes get sad and weary? Of course she does. Does she sometimes feel fearful? She does, but she confesses it—confession ushers in help from those around her and her friend Jesus. He stands ready, willing, and able to rescue her from her fears. The Holy Spirit living in her diligently works for her, around her, over her, beneath her, behind her, before her, and, best of all, through her. That makes her life a lot less squirrely. Her example will have far-reaching, eternal results.
Identifying blessings, even when we feel buried beneath a woodpile, becomes easier the more we pay attention to them. It’s all about our relationship with Jesus. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2 NIV)
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever!”
(1 Chronicles 16:34)
