We Are Thankful | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus
“And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.’” —John 11:41
Clenching my teeth and trying not to breathe through my nose, I continued to wipe the little bottom in front of me. Changing diapers is to be expected when you become a parent, but something no one prepares you for is the ungodly number of poop accidents that happen after the diaper phase.
But I trudged forward knowing my options were limited. I needed to put my big girl pants on and clean up the mess without leaving emotional residue on my 3-year-old’s psyche. Stuck in my head, feeling sorry for myself, I snapped back to reality when my little guy’s chubby hands cupped my cheeks.
“Thank you, Mommy,” squeaked his tiny voice.
And just like that, a simple thank you diffused the heated situation. My preschooler had enough emotional awareness to know that mommy wasn’t happy about his accident. In an emotionally charged moment, he chose to express gratitude — and it changed the atmosphere.
The Bible tells us about another emotionally charged moment where gratitude is expressed. In John 11, we read about Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus who has unexpectedly died. His two sisters along with the entire community are grieving Lazarus’s death when Jesus arrives on the scene. Jesus is “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” and weeps with them (John 11:33-35). Then, He goes to the tomb where Lazarus is buried and tells them to roll the stone away from the opening of the cave.
Before anything extraordinary happens, right there in the middle of the grieving, Jesus looks up and says, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”
Being thankful was a natural part of Jesus’ character; it flowed out of Him even in the most difficult moments of His life. We see this again at the Last Supper right before Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, and sentenced to death. He knew the time had come for His suffering and yet He paused to give thanks for the bread and the wine.
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).
Reflecting on this passage, Ann Voskamp writes, “On the night when Jesus was betrayed — He gave thanks. If Jesus can give thanks in that — it’s possible to give brave thanks in anything. If Jesus can give thanks in that kind of heartbreak — how can we not give thanks in ours?”
Sister, we belong to this Jesus, the One who experienced everyday kind of struggles like hunger and exhaustion; the One who walked through crises of personal betrayal, the death of loved ones, and intense physical and emotional suffering. This Jesus, who is marked by a life of thankfulness, is with us now, empowering us to live a life of brave thanks.
Through thankfulness, we can rise above the stresses and struggles of life, choosing to express gratitude instead of grumbling through our days. So, when the floor is covered in dog hair and the vacuum breaks, when you’re running out the door late for an appointment only to find a flat a tire, when your morning coffee spills, mosquitoes buzz in your ear at night, or the preschooler has another potty accident, remember that Jesus is with you, strengthening you to find gratitude in it all. We are His, and in Him, we are thankful!
REFERENCE:
https://annvoskamp.com/2022/04/betrayed-hurt-you-cant-miss-this-on-holy-thursday/
For Your Journal
Find It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.’” —John 11:41
Fix It:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
Father, thank you.
Find gratitude— even in emotionally charged moments.
Feel It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
Jesus, I’m moved by the expression of thanks I see in your life. Even in difficult moments, you took the time to express gratitude to the Father. Help me to follow your example— but not by own strength. I already know from experience that thankfulness isn’t my natural reaction in hard moments. Strengthen me by your Spirit to live a life of habitual gratitude. Remind me that I’m a new person in you, and as I focus on expressing thanks more freely, may I see the fruit of peace and joy grow in my heart. Amen.