Hope in Thanksgiving to Whom?

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
Psalm 115:4-8

There are so many merits to having a thankful attitude.

Even those in the medical field are extolling the virtues of having a grateful, positive outlook on life. They say positive people are healthier, live longer, heal faster and have more meaningful relationships.

It's true. When we can look at the circumstances around us, and be thankful for them, it does give us a peacefulness in our spirits.

I wonder, though, how long those in the world can continue to be thankful, when it is so unclear to Whom or to what they are thankful.

For us to have an attitude of thanksgiving, we must acknowledge that some thing or some One is in charge. The things that have happened in our lives have fallen to us due to the will of some One greater than ourselves.

I fear that so many are casting their thankfulness to

• "karma",
• the "forces" of the universe,
• the "powers that be",
• the cosmos, or
• whatever is "out there".

They don't want to make the "gods" angry; so they build yet another altar to the "Unknown God."

Just like those in Paul's day, folks are just trying to appease someone, trying to feel thankful to someone, because they knows it makes them feel better.

It really isn't the attitude of thankfulness or the acknowledging of a higher power that lowers the blood pressure or lifts the spirit.

It is the truth that resonates in our souls that we are not in charge, that there is a God who has set it all into motion and Who maintains the universe around us.

When we realize that the One true God is all powerful, all knowing, eternal, and everywhere present, we can relinquish our control. We can stop trying to make our life what we wish it to be.

We can be thankful to God for all of it, because we know:

• that an all-wise, all-loving Creator God has our life planned out exactly as He wants it to be;
• that everything that happens, happens for a reason;
• that all the trials are working out God's perfect will in us; and
• that every circumstance is molding us to be more Christ-like.

We can believe that even the heartaches and pain are shaping us into His image.

When we believe that, we can be truly thankful…

To God.

The world misses that. They may try the "gratitude attitude", but it will fall short. It will not satisfy their soul. When hard times come, they will be angry and bitter toward a universe that has dumped misery on them in spite of their thankfulness to it.

…and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
Daniel 5:23b

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, let's be sure to give honor to Whom honor is due. The God Who has our breath in His hands, and Who upholds all our ways is worthy to be glorified by our attitudes of gratefulness.

When our spirit of thankfulness grows, our hope grows. Our future is secure because our God is a good God!