Thanksgiving 2020
People are saying they can’t wait for this year to be over, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The United States is presently going through the aftermath of the Presidential election with lawsuits involving allegations of voter fraud. There’s an uptick in new Covid cases. New lockdowns and curfews are in prospect. And confusion abounds as we are approaching Thanksgiving on November 26. Families and friends are being urged not to get together on that day and some churches are once again resorting to online services only.
So what have we to be thankful for? Much! Be thankful for our Saviour and that our names are written in His Book of Life. Be thankful that His salvation also manifests in the here and now of the practical realities of our daily lives.
In the words of the song, “It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You!” It may look like we’re surrounded by chaos, but God surrounds us and is in total control. What we may see as mayhem on steroids, God sees working out perfectly in accordance with His plans and purposes. God is getting ready to show His hand that He is for real.
Jesus is ever telling us not to be afraid but to be cheerful and take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul tells us to rejoice and stand fast and be anxious for nothing but lay our burdens on the Lord in prayer; then we will know peace that is beyond our human understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Habakkuk had many questions of a kind that in the United States we may well be asking right now. Habakkuk complains that he sees violence and strife and looting and contention. He says the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth, for the wicked surround the righteous and therefore perverse judgment proceeds. That sounds very familiar right now to those of us in the USA. But God tells Habakkuk that He is about to move in an utterly astounding way that he will never believe even if He were to tell him in advance! Amen!
Let this be our confidence this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. And let us be strong in faith and rejoice and be joyful in the God of our salvation! Our joy is never dependent on our circumstances.
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
(Habakkuk 3:17-18, NLT)