Thanking God

One of the fundamental Biblical truths I have learned in the process of grief is to thank God for everything.  It was easy to praise and thank God when things had been going very well for me for 15 years.  It says its God's will that we thank him in all circumstances. (Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1 Thess 5:18)

We are thanking God that He is in control and I am giving Him control of this negative circumstance by my praise.  (Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.) Like when Jehosphat sent the praisers ahead of the battle.  Or like when Hezekiah put a threatening letter at the altar before God, we are putting our trust into the hands of our heavenly Father by our praise in that negative thing.

So there are many opportunities and there have been times I've just gritted my teeth and said, "Okay God thank you for my stupidity" or thank you for this negative situation because I want to do your will.  Such as times I've locked my keys in my house and had to wait 45 minutes for my daughter to come so I could go lead worship at MOSIAC (I ended up doing the song service at the end) or I locked my keys in my car here at work and fortunately the police at IUPUI let me in since I do not have triple A and the towing service I have the paperwork was in the glove box.

I lost my "backup partner" in life.   When I had a flat tire with my SUV, I called my grandson's great grandfather and he came to campus and helped me change my tire. It was very difficult geting that SUV tired fixed. 

I've continued many times when I did not want to thank God under my breath is say, "God I just thank you that you are working on my behalf even when bad things happen to me because you said you turn bad things around for my good."

(And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28)

Another example of this is Corrie ten Boom in the German concentration camp who thanked God for lice.  It turned out the German soldiers pretty much left them alone because of the lice.  Corrie got out of that concentration camp, because of a clerical error.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  Habbakkuk 3:18

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. Psalm 34:1