I'll give thanks, even when life stinks.

Child Dedications:

Good morning Church Family!

When I do a wedding, one thing I emphasize is the “oneness” of the couple. In marriage, a supernatural union happens where the “two become one.” And during the ceremony, I mention to the guests that they weren’t invited simply to have a good time, but to act as witnesses to the wedding vows. To be there for the couple and say, “Remember the commitments you made!” Because on that day, in God’s eyes, there are no longer two people, two groups of friends, two families - but one. The “two have become one.” There is one family now.

You know, the Bible describes the church as one-family too. In fact, Jesus prayed..

John 17:22–23 NLT

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Jn 17:22

Today, we have a special opportunity to act as church family. As you very well know, we have a lot of kids in our church! And God continues to bless our church with more and more. And this morning, we are having a few child dedications.

So, real quick, a child dedication is two things.

It’s an opportunity for us as a church family to celebrate life. We celebrate new life in our church! We are thankful for the children in our church! And we rejoice with their parents on their growing families.

The book of Proverbs says, “Raise up a child in the way they should go and when they get older, they will not depart from it.” This morning, as a church family, we are going to be witnesses to a commitment these families are making to raise up their children to love and follow Jesus. And like a wedding, it is our responsibility to come alongside these families and support them in fulfilling this commitment!

So, I’d like to invite the families to the front...

This is how it’s going to go down. In a moment, I’m going to read a few biblical commitments, for the parents, about raising their children in the Christian faith. And if you agree with them, after I’m done, you will say, “We do.”

Then, I’m going to read some commitments for us as a church family. And if we agree, we will also say, “We do.” Then, I will pray for the families and their children.

Read commitments.

Pray

Intro:

We are continuing in our “Give Thanks” series. As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s a great opportunity for us to focus on being thankful. Furthermore, let me remind us of our series’ foundational verse:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

It’s God’s will that we be thankful all the time! But that’s not easy to do, especially in our world. So, we are dedicating the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving to search God’s word for answers on how to do this.

And so far we’ve looked at how to “give thanks” even when we have a million worries and are surrounded by people who have nothing in common with us (people who don’t like us). Hard to be thankful in those circumstances… but God gives instruction on how to do it in HIs word. If you missed those messages, you can find the live-stream recording on FB or you visit our website for the YouTube version.

This morning we are going to discuss how to “give thanks” even when life stinks! The title of the message is “I’ll give thanks even when life stinks.”

If you have your Bible/app, you can open up to ; but, we’ll be jumping all around the Bible this morning. Also, you should’ve received a bulletin when you came in. We don’t always do this anymore, but this week (if you’re a note taker), I’ve listed the 5 main points for this morning, with fill-in-the-blanks. Alright? Let’s get started.

God commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” It’s His will for us. Christians are to be thankful people! But that’s not easy, especially when life stinks. It’s hard to give thanks when our life is falling apart. So, what are we supposed to do? Better yet, if God is in control, why does He allow our lives to stink?

Point number 1…

Exegesis:

1) Sometimes life stinks because of sin:

We live in a fallen world. What I mean by that is God created this world and “it was good.” But then sinned entered the world and messed everything up. And now, it’s fallen.

Romans 8:20–21 NLT

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

We know it’s not supposed to be this way. And so many times we cry out, “This stinks!” It stinks because sin messed it up.

But let’s get more specific than that. Sometimes, our life stinks, not just because sin corrupted the world, but because our personal sin corrupts our lives! When we sin - when we choose to disobey and dishonor God - we mess our life up! Paul says...

Galatians 5:6–7 ESV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Galatians 6:7–8 NLT

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Galatians 6:6–7 ESV

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Sometimes our lives stink because of our sinful choices. And for Christians, what can make it feel even “stinkier” is when God spanks us. We have to face the consequences of our sin and it stinks (even though we deserve it). But guess what, there’s still an opportunity to give thanks! Why? Check it out...

Hebrews 12:5–11 ESV

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Heb 12:

When we sin and have to face the consequences, it stinks - especially when God disciplines us. That’s real - this passage even says: No one likes to be disciplined - it stinks!

But this passage also says two other things:

When we get spanked, as much as it stinks, if we’re willing to learn from it, God not only corrects our behavior, but He also causes our lives to produce “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” That’s good!

When we get spanked, it’s proof that we are God’s children! When God disciplines us - it stinks - but it also shows us that we are loved and we belong to Him! He’s fixing our life for the better!

When we sin, life stinks. Then, life really stinks when God spanks us. But the truth is, we can also “give thanks,” because even though it stinks, God is making us more like Jesus in the process.

Point number two...

2) Sometimes life stinks because we overlook God’s goodness:

I’m not gonna spend too much time on this point because it’s actually what we will focus on next week! But for real… sometimes our life stinks because our perspective stinks. At least for The River Church, if you’re sitting here, think on these three things:

You’re free.

You’re alive. It’s good to be alive, amen?

You’re in the presence of God. And He loves you.

Those 3 things should radically impact our perspective on life. It’s not to diminish the hard things we’re facing. Sometimes life stinks. But the greater reality for the Christian is, God is good, He loves us, and we belong to Him.

James 1:16–18 NLT

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

Don’t get it twisted. If you belong to Jesus, give thanks! Because we have the greatest hope and access to the fullest joy!

Point number 3...

3) Sometimes life stinks so we can know God better:

Again, God is good, but life really stinks sometimes. Jesus understands this. In fact, He said...

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

I’m gonna translate that… “In the world, sometimes life will stink.” But we can take heart, we can “give thanks,” because God has overcome the world and has a plan for our lives (even when it’s hard). He’s got a purpose for the times that just “stank.”

For example, think about Job. Job was a man of God. Job loved God with all his heart. Job knew God! But then God allowed Satan to destroy his life. After Satan was through with Job, his life stunk!

Job 3:1–3 NLT

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. He said: “Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived.

Job 3:

Why did God let this happen? One reason to show that Job’s faith was true. But I believe the greater reason is so Job could know God better! Remember, Job already knew God! But at the end of the book, Job says...

Job 42:4–5 NLT

You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

Job 42:5 NLT

I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

Job 42:

Through the difficulty, Job’s personal knowledge of God grew! He now knew God better! Sometimes, God - in His perfect ways - chooses to let us go through hard times because He wants us to know Him better… and sometimes that path stinks.

The military uses a term: Embrace the “yuck.” It means that sometimes you have to go through yucky situations to make forward progress.

I’ve shared these stories before (so I apologize to those who have already heard them), but they are landmark stories of God’s goodness in my life - that involved “yuck.”

When my oldest son Georgie was born, it was hard. He had a traumatic birth which involved him dying for 5 minutes, having seizures, serious brain injuries, and many sleepless days filled with worry and tears. But through the process, I came to know God better! Through it, I learned that God is truly a healer! The doctors said Georgie was in serious trouble and would be disabled. God said otherwise. And God was right! And now I know that God is able to heal! I know God better!

Janelle and I have never had a lot of money. But sometimes we’ve had no money. And yet, it is through these moments of desperation that we learned that God is my provider. The Bible says...

Psalm 37:5 ESV

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Psalm 37:25 NLT

Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

I know this is true because of the yucky times when we have had NO MONEY. When we were worried about our next meal. And yet, the testimony of our life is my kids have never missed a meal, went without a diaper, and always had a warm bed to sleep in. I have no idea how that was true because there were some financially hopeless times! But because of those times, I’ve seen God’s faithfulness. I now know God better!

Embrace the “yuck”. Give thanks!

Point number 4...

4) Sometimes life stinks so others can know God better:

Sometimes our life stinks and it’s not just for us. It’s part of something bigger. In John chapter 11, we find the story of Lazarus. Lazarus was the brother to two well-known biblical characters, Mary and Martha. And Jesus absolutely loved this family. They were his close friends. He had Thanksgiving at their house (?).

But in , Jesus gets news that his friend Lazarus is dying and he needs to come quickly to heal him! But Jesus takes his time and Lazarus dies. Say, “That stinks.”

But Jesus said this...

John 11:4 ESV

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Jn 11:

He also adds...

John 11:14–15 ESV

Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Jn 11:

When Jesus finally arrives, both Mary and Martha say to Him, “Why didn’t You come earlier? If you had, Lazarus would be alive!” Basically, Jesus - why did you let this happen? It stinks!

But then Jesus walks to the tomb where Lazarus has already been buried in for 4 days and prays. Then, He says something interesting...

John 11:41–42 ESV

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Jn. 11:

You see, a crowd had gathered with Mary and Martha. And Jesus is like, “Everybody… watch this!”

John 11:43–44 ESV

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

And look what happens...

John 11:45 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

Then, later on, we read this...

John 12:9–11 ESV

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Jn 12:9-

Dying stunk for Lazarus. It also stunk for Mary and Martha. But through the process, not only did they know God better, but many others did too! Through the story of Lazarus, many came to know God better and put their faith in Jesus!

Sometimes life stinks because God is using your life, your faith, your circumstances to bring hope to the world around you. Which leads us to this connecting point...

Point number 5...

5) Sometimes life stinks so we can comfort others:

2 Corinthians 1:3–11 NLT

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

There was an article floating around Facebook a little bit ago about a nurse that wrote an apology letter to her patients. Previously, she had worked with cancer patients, and while not being rude, her compassion was limited. Then, one day she was diagnosed with cancer. And she experienced what it was like to hang on every word that the doctors and nurses say. And she was like, “I’m sorry! I knew, but I didn’t know! But now I really know!”

In the past, I’d hear about something sad happening to a child and I’d feel bad, but I didn’t really know how much it stunk. It wasn’t until we personally experienced the hardship that we went through with Georgie that I really knew what it was like to wonder if your child is going to survive. Now, when I hear about traumatic births, my heart aches because I personally know the pain. And even more, I think I’m better equipped to comfort those going through the pain I experienced. Additionally, I can also personally speak to the hope Jesus offers us in the tough times!

Sometimes

Sometimes, the difficulty you’re experiencing has a greater purpose. God is using your life as part of His plan to bring hope to the world! And He’s equipping you to comfort the brokenness around you.

It may stink right now, but what if God is going to do something amazing though it? What if it’s an opportunity for you to give thanks AND also for others to give thanks through it.

God has a history of using times when life stinks for His glory. When Paul looked at all that God has done and is doing, part of him could say, “Some of that stuff stunk!” But then when He saw the glory, hope, and salvation that came from it, he said, “God knows what He’s doing. I don’t understand it, but God does!” Actually, He put it this way.

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

So today, we’re going to end with a testimony from person in our church who is experiencing difficult times… And my prayer is that God will use them to help us “give thanks!”

Testimonies:

April Mullin

Howard Wood

Response:

There are no answers, no resolution, no happy-ending to this testimony (yet). But we serve a good God who does things His own way. His ways are not ours. His thoughts are not ours.

Mary and Martha thought Jesus should’ve come earlier. But Jesus had His own perfect timing. It initially produced yucky circumstances, but resulted it wonderful glory. And they gave thanks to God.

I’m going to call the worship team up. And I’d like to close with this...

When life stinks, let’s give thanks, because as God’s children, we have REAL HOPE that He is doing something good! God is in control and He knows what He’s doing. Let’s trust Him and give thanks.

If life stinks and you’re not God’s child, you can give thanks too. Because God’s put this message in front of you so you can be saved! God has led you here today, though a particular set of circumstances that He is fully aware of, and He’s orchestrated it so that you could hear this message of hope. That yes, life stinks. But is a perfect and loving Savior.

If you’d like to do that today, the Scriptures say that all we need to do is call on the name of Jesus. Anyone who calls on His name on the Lord will not be turned away. If you turn away from your sins (the things making your life stink) and put your faith in Jesus, He will forgive you and give you a brand new life. A life filled with hope. And yes, there may still be stinky times, but you also have a guaranteed hope that one day you will be in heaven with Him - and the yuck will forever be gone! Don’t wait. Do that today!

Also, don’t go through hard times by yourself...

Tell someone.

Prayer

Come to Life Group.

All three of these things are for all of us: We’re not meant to be Christians alone. God designed us to live in community. We are made in HIs image. He lives in community (Trinity). We are made for it!