Thanksgiving Day is already here which is crazy because it feels like 2020 just started … or maybe it’s lasted forever? No matter, it’s been weird that’s for sure. But, nevertheless, here we are. The day set aside each year to give thanks, eat good food and see all the awkward family members that you manage to avoid the rest of the year.

With all of the ups and downs, I started to think about the idea of giving thanks. And more specifically, why we make such a big deal about giving thanks on this singular day. This brought me to 1 Thessalonians 5:18,

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

But wait. What if my circumstances aren’t great? What if I lost my job? What if I can’t be with my family this year? What if I just lost someone that I love?

How do we give thanks when life is hard?

JESUS MAKES THANKSGIVING POSSIBLE

Let’s look at the thanksgiving being displayed in Luke 22:19. While in the upper room, Jesus “took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”

First, we have to dive into a quick Greek lesson:

- The word “thanks” here is translated as eucharisteo.

- The root of this word is charis (eucharisteo) meaning “grace”

- Which also holds its derivative chara (eucharisteo) meaning “joy”

I know, you’re thinking, why does this matter? Well, look at Jesus’ prayer again.

Jesus gave thanks, fully knowing what was to come. He thanked the Father for the bread that represented His own body that was about to be broken and brutalized for sinners. Jesus gave thanks despite His circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Jesus expressed His thanksgiving or eucharisteo to the Father for the grace and glory that was to come because of the cross which caused Him to have joy amidst His horrific circumstances.

JOY MAKES THANKSGIVING POSSIBLE

Jesus was able to have eucharisteo in every circumstance because He knew there was a future grace to come. His hope was not found in His surroundings, rather, it was rooted in the knowledge that God had a bigger, better plan.

We have a future grace and it’s because of Jesus that we can stand in joy and thanksgiving regardless of the circumstances. Hebrew 12:2 encourages us in this way:

“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus had His sight fixed on the joy set before Him. Because of that, He was able to endure the cross. Notice, Jesus wasn’t focused on the cross, He wasn’t focused on the circumstances or what was happening around Him. Instead, He was fixed on the future grace to be revealed.

The same applies to us. If we focus on our difficult situation, we won’t be able to endure. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, however, we can give thanks knowing that Jesus and His saving grace is our ultimate joy.

JESUS MAKES JOY POSSIBLE

With this joy, you can have the ability to endure hard things. Take a look through Scripture and you’ll be continually reminded of the promises that far outweigh whatever you’re going through.

- You have been brought from death to life (2 Corinthians 5:17).

- You have the free gift of forgiveness from now into forever (Romans 6:23).

- You are justified through faith not through the attempt of perfection (Galatians 2:16).

- We will have all of our true needs met (Philippians 4:19).

- God will complete the good work He began in you (Philippians 1:6).

- One day, you will be with Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:8).

- When you are finally with Jesus, you will know full joy (Psalm 16:11).

- The day will come when you will be free of all sin and corruption (Romans 8:21).

Because Jesus endured the cross, rose again and defeated death, you can experience the true joy of being reconciled to God forever with all of the promises that accompany this new status.

This doesn’t mean you won’t face trouble, because you will. Money will be tight, relationships will be damaged, and life will sometimes just be hard. But every hardship is a reminder to look to Jesus and to live a life of eucharisteo.

With that in mid, let every day be a celebration of thanksgiving. Give thanks this year because of the eternal joy found in Christ.