God Does Not Exaggerate
“In everything give thanks.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch clockmaker who hid Jews from the Nazis during World War II. Eventually she and her sister were arrested and taken to a concentration camp in Germany. She contemplated how she could give thanks for everything considering the deplorable, life-threatening conditions of the camp and the abusive treatment by the guards.
An invasion of fleas and lice in their barracks made a horrible situation even worse. In faith, Corrie Ten Boom told her sister, “Let us give thanks for the lice.” They did. It turned out that the Nazi guards feared catching lice themselves. Because of this, they did not enter the barracks, and the women could live, worship, and pray without interference.
Christians can find themselves in circumstances they wouldn’t wish on even an enemy. Parents bury their children. Disease and pain can afflict to a breaking point. Can we truly give thanks in everything? The Lord assures us we can. Not that we give thanks for the tragedy, but that we are grateful for God’s faithful love and promises through it all. When we pray for relief from suffering, we also can include a prayer of thanksgiving. Jesus did not go to the lengths of redeeming us only to abandon us in our time of need.
O Holy Spirit, increase my faith that I may thank you in every circumstance whether good or bad. Amen.