Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving Day became an official Federal holiday in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens” (for the original proclamation please read http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm).
It is easy to give thanks when everything is going our way. However, Thanksgiving Day was instituted in the midst of the Civil War, the worst time in American history. President Lincoln was pretty aware of what the nation was going through, but he understood that there were plenty of reasons to be thankful.
Some people blame God for their problems. Some say that they could not believe in a God that allow bad things to happen. They might be misunderstanding the Bible, or just making up their own expectations about God. But in fact, Jesus said that we will face tribulation.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
The Bible doesn’t hide the fact that this world will give us plenty of disappointments. God knew that this sinful world was unable to fulfill our inner needs, but He promised us peace through Jesus.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. – John 14:27
We can have peace even in the midst of our tribulations; a peace that is not based on what we see or what we are going through, but on the assurance that He has overcome the world.
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. – Revelations 21:3-4
One day this world and all its tribulations will be gone, but God and his kingdom will take over. That is a good reason to be thankful.
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