Thanking God for Life—All of It

Your career is hard, especially when balancing it with a family.

You live somewhere you didn’t choose.

You don’t get paid enough, can’t afford basics, live in sub-par housing.

It’s all hard on your kids.

We can always find more to moan and groan about. But it’s just talk—nothing important, right? What would a family have to talk about if not complaints?

But here in Ephesians, the truth stares back at us: be thankful for everything.

Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.

Ephesians 5:20 (CEV)

We try to get around it. Be thankful during all things? Roger. We’ll work on it. But no, it says be thankful for everything.

How are we supposed to be grateful for this mess?

It starts with submission. If we are complaining, we haven’t surrendered our hearts. Grumbling shows we don’t trust God and His plan. We are refusing to accept God’s authority over our lives. Maybe we think God can’t truly love us if He’d put us through this.

Can we trust? Can we reach out and take God’s hand? Can we look for the good He surrounds us with now? Can we believe God loves us enough to make even the bad into something glorious?

This Thanksgiving let’s begin the practice of having a submissive, thankful heart. When we’re tempted to complain, let’s thank God for the good we can see—and for the struggles that point us to Him. Let’s thank God for our spouses and children, for a great country to live in, for all the opportunities and experiences God gives us, for the friends we meet, for God’s continued protection, and for how we are learning reliance and intimacy with God.

PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for this life. You use even the hard things for our good. Forgive me for complaining and help me have a heart of gratitude. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Questions: What can we be thankful for together as a family? Have you ever looked back on a hard time and seen something to be grateful for? What might God be doing with a hard situation we’re facing now?

Apply: Be honest with your kids about the difficulties in this life. But work to stop yourself short of complaining or grumbling. Remember that they will mirror your attitude and actions. Teach them through your everyday walk and talk to have a grateful heart. You are a leader in your family!

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. SRead these passages today.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hebrews 12:28

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This devotional was written by Tonia Gutting for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage Military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your Military family, check out our website.www.myherosquad.org.