"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
The leaves outside my window are turning shades of burnt orange and rich red. Tree branches break and their buds shrivel and disappear. My memory tells me it happens every year, and yet I always find adoration and abundance in the process. Isn't it like our God to make something that's dying so beautiful?
Unlike the changing seasons, I don't often appreciate "dying" seasons in my life. Transitions, unknowns, and unpredictable events are things I strive to avoid. From time to time, God gently places His hand on me, pruning branches, cutting off limbs that don't bear fruit, and preparing my tree for the next season. But in these challenging times, it can be hard to focus on cultivating gratitude and joy. One thing that has helped me shift this perspective is the imagery of the harvest.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul essentially told us to "Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances." God's will for us is to find joy in praying and giving thanks at all times. What I think we tend to forget is that these verses ask us to do these things in all circumstances, not for all circumstances.
When life is sunshine and rainbows, it's easy to rejoice, pray, and express gratitude. God is good and so is life. Yet, when times turn sorrowful, thanks and praise are the last words to escape from our lips. Saying them feels fake, and bitterness swells within us. 1 Thessalonians, however, tells us to display these habits in all things. That means that we're praising and thanking God for who He is despite where we are. God deserves praise, thanks, and adoration regardless of our circumstances.
Knowing this small truth has transformed how I see this verse. Why? Because it's revealed to me that God sees me where I am and He cares about both the abundant and drought seasons in my life. It's taken off the pressure to rejoice about everything (like bad things that happen) and replaced it with the reality that I'm praising God for who He is. My circumstances don't change that.
As autumn fades into winter (a season I dread and could live without), I'm reminded that harvesting gratitude should happen year-round. Just as fall represents a time of harvest, a season to reflect on how we've grown in our lives—both good and bad—we can reflect on this growth spiritually. Farmers gather their crops for the next season, and we, too, can gather our experiences, learning to see the blessings even in difficulties.
As you reflect over the past year, what have you harvested? Good fruit and abundant grain, or rotten produce and stingy crops? Can you look over the challenges you faced and see lessons learned, or are you struggling to rejoice in the hardships? No matter what you've experienced this last year, I want to encourage you of two things:
1. Your feelings and experiences matter,
2. God is God regardless of our experiences (and He deserves our praise).
I used to think that praising and thanking God when life was hard made me a fraud. The reality is that it makes me human. Here on earth, we're going to face testing times and seasons where it's hard to rejoice and cry out to the Lord. But faith is not based on our feelings; faith is based on our obedience when we feel like it and when we don't. Something breaks when we push forward. It's not because we're ignoring our circumstances but because God is grieving with us amid them. As we praise and grieve, He comforts us.
This fall season, I challenge you to try one of the following practices:
1. Create a "Gratitude Jar." Each day, write down one thing you are thankful for and place it in the jar. By the end of the month, you’ll have a collection of blessings to reflect on. You can do this every month, and even incorporate it into an annual tradition.
2. Start a "Gratitude Journal." Every morning or evening, write down one thing you are thankful for and take time to say a short prayer. This is a great journal to look over at the end of the year. It can also help reduce anxiety and depression.
Let's pray:
Dear God,
Harvesting gratitude is something we can all do every season. This year, help us to rejoice, praise, and be thankful despite our circumstances. Doing these things doesn't invalidate what we're feeling, but it helps us realign our vision. Help us cultivate a heart of gratitude and support those who are struggling. As you make beauty out of the changing seasons, make beauty out of the broken things in our lives. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Which gratitude practice are you going to try? Share your gratitude with someone this week through a text, email, letter, or in-person conversation. Just as the harvest and changing of seasons bring forth fruit, a heart full of gratitude can lead to deeper joy and satisfaction with Jesus and others.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
Originally published Thursday, 24 October 2024.
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