Thankfulness is the celebration of life despite the difficulties. It is the recognition that life happens despite the pain. If we wait for the pain to dissipate before starting to live, we will have found (at the end of life), that life past us by without ever choosing to live. Pain can either keep us from living life or it can be the salt that seasons it. If we really believe that God is in control of our reality and we trust that He is good, we can rest in the assurance that no matter what life may bring our way, we can choose to not react but to allow time to bring everything into perspective. This allows us to patiently wait for fear and anxiousness to subside and respond wisely based on the truth instead of react to the demands of the moment.

I believe there is no higher form of worship than when in the midst of pain and suffering where the circumstances of life are pressing in on you with seamingly no way out, that you turn your face to God and celebrate the preciousness of life with a heart of thanksgiving. It is the clearest possible statement that you trust that God is ultimately in control of your life and that He will rescue you out of any situation as you posture yourself in anticipation of His approaching salvation. Such faith and trust will carry an enormous exchange rate in heavenly currency throughout eternity. What a way to respond to life!

When we fail to embrace thankfulness, we give power to the difficulties. When we celebrate life despite the challenges, we push out onto the sea of abundant life and allow the winds of suffering to take us into unexplored regions of life.