Thanking God for Hard Times

Thanking God for Hard Times 1 Thessalonians 5:18-18

INTRODUCTION

ILLUS: The Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something to be thankful for. One Sunday morning, the weather was stormy. And dark. And one of the deacons said, "The preacher won’t be able to thank God for anything on a day like this. It’s absolutely horrible outside!" But much to his surprise, Rev. Whyte began the service by praying, "We thank thee, O God, that it is not always like this." Rev. Whyte understood the truth of our text this morning.

THANK GOD ALL THE TIME

We should thank God no matter what! Because the same God who rules the universe when times are good is the same God who rules the universe when times are not so good. And God always has reasons and motives and purposes for why he does what he does. Having said that, when I hear Paul say, "Give thanks in all circumstances," there’s a part of me that wants to say, "Paul, wake up and smell the coffee! What do YOU have to be thankful for? You’re in danger every single day of your life. You’ve spent years and years in prison because of your faith. You threw away a thriving career as a Pharisee. And look what you have to show for it! Nothing!" ILLUS: I saw a gripping movie a while back. This Christian family is being ripped apart at the seams. The mom and dad are getting a divorce. And the older brother finds out he has cancer. And the younger brother feels angry. And betrayed by God. So he goes to see his brother in the hospital. And the older brother says, "Don’t worry. I’m going to beat this thing. God is good." And the younger brother loses his temper. He said, "How can you sit there and say God is good? Look at what’s happening to you! Look at what’s happening with mom and dad! ..... I hear what you’re saying. But I just don’t see it." And yet, it’s right there in the word of God: "be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."

There are several things you need to remember if you’re going to do this.

Number one: Remember that God is at work in our lives even when times are bad. In 1 Thessalonians 1:6 Paul says to them, "in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." In other words, as harsh as your life has become, God is still at work in your community! More and more of you are becoming Christians every day! And I praise God for that!" ILLUS: Corrie Ten Boom – When she was at the concentration camp, she stayed in Barracks number 28. And it was infested with fleas. It was almost unbearable. But one night, they read the same passage of scripture we’re looking at now: "Give thanks in all circumstances." And Corrie’s sister said, "God wants us to thank him for the fleas." And Corrie said, "No way! That’s taking religion just a little bit too far! I’m NOT going to thank God for these infernal fleas!" After a while, the nightly Bible studies attracted more and more women. And Corrie started wondering if they would get caught. And so she asked one of the women, "Why don’t the Nazis ever come in and check on us?" And she said, "It’s because of the fleas. They won’t come near this place for that reason." And then Corrie remembered this Bible verse and said, "God, thank you for the fleas!" Romans 8:28 says that "in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him."

God uses even our most dismal circumstances to bring glory to himself. And accomplish his purposes on the earth. So we should thank God even for the hard times in life. Another thing to remember is that God often uses our hardships to make us better Christians.

ILLUS: In Daniel chapter 4, God drove King Nebuchadnezzar away from Babylon and caused him to go insane for seven years. And it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. Because at the end of the seven years, the king looked up to God and said, "Lord, the most insane thing I could ever do is live my life without you. You alone are the Most High God. And you are sovereign over the kingdoms of men. And I humble myself before you." I’ve heard people who have had to spend time in jail say the same thing.

ILLUS: Jim Bakker said, "it was the best thing that ever happened to me because it gave me critical distance from my crazy life. I was able to look at things. And see how wrong I was. And get back to walking with God." ILLUS: Have you ever heard of Michael J Fox? He’s a TV and movie actor who has Parkinson’s Disease. And he said in his book that "if you made a deal with God that he would take away my Parkinson’s disease and cancel out the last ten years of my life, I would tell you to take a hike. My life is so good now. I’m helping a lot of people cope with the stigma of this disease. And it makes me appreciate life as a precious gift." 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. So thank God for our troubles! TROUBLES WILL NOT LAST FOREVER

A final reason to thank God for our troubles is that we know that they’re not going to last forever.

We can say, "Lord, I thank you that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I thank you that someday, I’m going to be in heaven with you. And I’m never going to have to suffer pain anymore. And I’m never going to have to watch someone I love die ever again. And I’m not going to get stressed out about anything anymore." Psalm 16:11 says that there are eternal pleasures at God’s right hand up in heaven. This morning, I want to encourage you to do two things:

Number one: Thank God for whatever trial you’re going through right now. Say, "Lord, I know there’s a reason for this. There’s a lesson to be learned. And a job that has to be done. I thank you for my current situation. And may your holy will be done in my life." Number two: Thank God for what you still have. I just got this email the other day. And it goes like this: "If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the six million who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a worship service without fear of persecution, arrest, torture or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world. If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, money in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy." That’s something to think about as we head toward the Thanksgiving season. We might be sad about our hardships. About things we don’t have anymore. But we should never forget how much God has blessed us, either. And that things could always be worse. If Jesus Christ is your personal Lord and Savior, then you’ve got it made in the shade. You get to go to heaven. And live in happiness and joy forever and ever. And you’ll be able to find reasons to thank God for your hardships. The Christian group Petra does a song that goes like this: "I have a thankful heart.

That you have given me.

And it can only come from you."

My prayer is that this song will be true in your own life.

CONCLUSION

The only way it can be is that if you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Don’t put it off. You don’t know what the next day is going to be like. And he has the power to be able to help you with any hardship that you can think of. I invite you to accept Christ today. If you would like to, then say this prayer with me: