“Can You Thank Me?”

“Can You Thank Me?”

March 21, 2018

I read a story about a missionary doctor in the 1960’s who, along with her co-workers, faced unimaginable cruelty from guerrilla soldiers who took over the hospital and occupied it for months. Feeling overwhelmed by the experience, she allowed herself to question why God had not intervened.

As she cried out to the Lord, she sensed Him asking her: “Can you thank me?” Obviously, God would not ask her to thank Him for evil. She realized the question she was hearing was: “Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?”

I thought of Job in the Old Testament. As far as we know, he was never told the reason for the calamity that came into his life. As brutal as his experience was, we read that he “tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell to the ground and worshipped . . . and blessed the name of the Lord.”

Thanksgiving and gratefulness are easy when the good things of life are coming our way. It is when God allows us to experience difficulty and heartache that our ability to be thankful faces the real test. I like to think of myself as grateful much of the time. But in all honesty, when I read a story like that of Job or the missionary doctor, I realize that I fall far short of understanding what true thanksgiving is all about.

Perhaps the key to this kind of gratefulness is to focus more and more on the brutal effect of my sin on Jesus. When He hung on that cross and the sin of all mankind was placed on Him, even the Father looked away. There could not be a more lonely and forsaken feeling than what Jesus felt in that moment.

During this Easter season, I am determined to grow a step closer to true gratefulness as a way of life. Thanksgiving in all things is probably the most powerful witness for the presence of Christ in our life.

Pastor Bill Ehmann

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT POSTS

“The Conductor”

By wvbaptist | April 18, 2018 | 0 Comments

April 18, 2018 Our neighbor plays in a band and invited Carol and me to attend one of their concerts. There were many instruments, played by people ranging in age from young students to seniors. We arrived early and watched […]

“The Wonder of It All”

By wvbaptist | April 13, 2018 | 1 Comment

April 12, 2018 Springtime in the Pacific Northwest offers a daily increase in natural beauty. Almost overnight, the trees add flowers and leaves. Birds are singing and building nests. People are anxious to get into the garden as they anticipate […]

“Humans Need a King”

By wvbaptist | April 4, 2018 | 0 Comments

April 4, 2018 The Book of Judges has a recurring statement: “There was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes.” The book is a repetitive story of God’s people falling into sinful […]

“Water”

By wvbaptist | March 28, 2018 | 0 Comments

March 28, 2018 A small river behind our home runs year round. Right now, there is a lot of water, but even in the dry summer season, it has never failed since we have lived there. I have pondered why […]

“Hindrances to Gratefulness”

By wvbaptist | March 16, 2018 | 1 Comment

March 15, 2018 Creator God wants us to be grateful – it honors Him. Our life has more joy when we are grateful. I have been considering the things that hinder a grateful heart. A sense of entitlement. If I […]

Scroll to Top