Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-He remains faithful forever.
Psalms 146:5-6
Oh Lord, we thank You. We thank You for the provision You give us. We thank You for Your abundance. We thank You for the rain and sunshine that makes plants grow. We thank You for the harvest. Thank You for trucks that ship food to grocery stores and the workers who prepare fresh food for us. Thank You for potlucks, food pantries, soup kitchens and places where people share meals and share their hearts. Thank You for the ease that You enable us to feed and clothe ourselves. You provide for us although we are a sullen, grumbling and unworthy people. Yet, You give with unfailing love and endless joy. You care for both our needs and our wants in immeasurable ways. Lord, for this we thank You.
We thank You, Lord, for your guidance. You have looked upon your people and found us helpless and wanting. Yet, You shepherd us and lead us. You bring people into our lives to speak comfort and wisdom to us. You bring others to us so that we may love and be loved. You give us peace and give us hope. You rejoice with us when we know joy. You are with us in times of trouble and you comfort us in times of despair. Lord, you are always with us. You are always faithful, never leaving or forsaking us. Lord, for this, we thank You.
We thank You, Lord, for our suffering. In sorrow, You are shaping us. In our pain, You are refining us. In our doubt, You grow our faith. You build our compassion as we overcome hurt. You make us bolder as we overcome shame. You give us purpose as we overcome grief. Our hardships give us the source for our humility. Our afflictions give us the source of our empathy. You have loved us enough to build us into ambassadors for You and loved us enough to shape us into Your vessels. Our adversity teaches us how to love others. Lord, for this we thank You.
We thank You, Lord, for bringing us persecution. In being hated, we learn your forgiveness. In our rejection, You make us long for reconciliation. When treated harshly, we learn the importance of gentleness. When mocked, we learn the importance of humbleness, of kindness and of patience. You teach us to become more like You in our ability to love one another. Lord, for this we thank You.
We thank You, Lord, for Your perfect love. It is too wonderful to imagine. It gives all and bears all. It is patient and long-suffering, yet quick and eager to forgive our wrongs. It is tender and intimate and vast and immeasurable. Your love is an unfathomably intricate tapestry, weaving millions of souls together to the benefit of each and every individual. Your love is personal, like a gentle touch to a desperate heart in the middle of a relentless day. In our sleep and in our rising, You are there. When we are lost and when we are found, You are there. None of us are forgotten. None of us are alone. You are the author of peace, the bringer of justice, and You are love. Lord, for who You are, we thank You.
Written by Janet Keefe
