Each year – on the fourth Thursday of November – we, in America, celebrate Thanksgiving. It is that one day of the year on which we focus our attention, supposedly, on the blessings which God has showered down on us. And indeed, the blessings are many, and the thanksgiving to God is so richly deserved. Blessings such as family, health, a secure job, a comfortable house, a nice car, good neighbors, etc. are the order of the day for so many. For all of these things, and multitudes of others, we should be thankful.

However, for many, those “blessings” are not a reality in their life. As they give consideration to the past 365 days, they do not remember very many good days, but most have been filled with hardship, heartache, trouble, sadness, loss. Lost jobs, lost salaries, lost health, lost family members, lost security. The past year has been nothing but a series of catastrophic events that have robbed them of everything except life itself. And many, due to the events of the past year, even wish life itself would end.

Giving consideration to the foregoing, it would seem that some have ample reason for giving thanks, while for others, thanksgiving seems like a cruel joke, a day that mocks them as they consider the pain of the past. They see others who have been so richly blessed, who are living life to the max, who are enjoying health and happiness, and they are reminded of how totally different their past year, or for some, years, has been. They peer though the windows of other people’s lives, and they are reminded of how life can sometimes, for some, be nothing but a cruel joke. For so many it is easy to develop the mentality that all of life is nothing more than a meaningless series of events from birth to death. So, what’s the point? And especially, what’s the idea behind a day of thanks? In their estimation, they have nothing for which to be thankful.

It seems so glib, even crass, for those who have to wish those who don’t have a “happy thanksgiving.” They might retort, “Yeah, if I enjoyed the lifestyle you enjoy; if I lived on the side of town you live on; if I had the job you have; if I drove the kind of car you drive; if, if, if….then I would certainly be thankful. But since I don’t, you just go on back over to your side of the tracks and enjoy your plenty, while I stay over here and suffer my poverty.”

There is no question about the proven fact that life seems so unfair at times. There are inequalities in life. There are, indeed, those who have and those who have not. There are those who seem to live a wonderfully blessed life, free from the hardships and heartaches that so many seem to live with day in and day out. And then, there are the others who seem to suffer through life, facing ordeals of overwhelming magnitude with each passing day. For those who have, giving thanks is relatively easy, while for those who have not, thanksgiving can be an impossibility.

So, what is the answer? Well, to be extremely overly-simplistic, the answer is to develop a life of “thanks-living.” And the only way I know to make this a reality is to bring God  into the formula. However, having stated that premise, I realize that for some, this makes the matter of thanksgiving an even more difficult ordeal. Those who have not might not only be jealous and envious of those who have, but they might even blame God for giving to others while He withholds from them. Isn’t that totally unfair? Couldn’t God do a better job of dividing up His blessings? Why does He give to some and not to others? Why does He bless some with health and prosperity, while others suffer illness and poverty? Is there any way to make sense of this conundrum?

Well, there is a solution, but it might not be one which will satisfy everyone. For those reading these words who profess to be Christians, and who believe that the Bible is the Word of God, there is ample evidence that God works in unusual and even mysterious ways with His children. Sadly, we in America have now for so long been inundated with the teachings of those who propagate a Gospel of health, wealth and happiness, that many have embraced this false philosophy and actually believe that once one has become of a follower of Jesus Christ, life will be filled with nothing but good. And it is so easy to believe that a good God would do nothing but good for His children.

And He does. The problem is that our definition of good and God’s definition of that same word are oftentimes two entirely different things. Good, for us, is oftentimes thought of in terms of what makes me happy, fulfilled, satisfied. This would include, but not be limited to, health, a good job, a family which brings constant joy and gladness – in other words, everything that makes me feel good, and nothing that would cause any pain or sadness. God’s definition of good would be anything that He can use to further His kingdom plan, which will ultimately result in the greatest good for those who embrace Him by faith. Study the life of a few of God’s choice servants and this will become amazingly clear. Joseph suffered extreme hardship, but it all resulted in unbelievable good. Jeremiah, the great prophet, suffered immeasurable pain and rejection, and God brought about His desired purposed through the prophet. Paul suffered excruciating pain, and ultimately suffered execution, for his faith, and God has blessed the entire world through Paul’s ministry and writing.

Thanks-living is living above the eventualities of life. When life is good, give thanks. When life – at least from our perspective – is bad, give thanks. Give thanks in all thing and for all things, as the apostle Paul taught us, because we know that God is on the throne and is working in all things for the good of those who love Him.

And remember, above all else, that for the believer in Jesus Christ, the best is yet to come! Look above and beyond anything and everything in this life, to that life yet to be realized in heaven, where we will enjoy the fullness of the blessings of God, unblemished by the toils and sufferings of this life. Until then, let’s let thanksgiving show itself in our lives of thanks-living.