We all know how easy it is to thank God when things are going well. When we receive good news, when a prayer is answered, or when something we’ve been worried about finally works out, we’re quick to thank Him. But when things aren’t going so well, it’s a different story. Sometimes we’re so caught up in our problems that we forget about all the good things God has already done for us.
This week’s Hebrew expression is Hodu L’Adonai (הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה, pronounced hoh-DOO lah-ah-doh-NAI), which means “Give thanks to the LORD.” It’s a simple expression, but there’s a lot we can learn from it.
Psalm 107:1 says:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
If you read the rest of this psalm, you’ll notice something interesting. It speaks about people who were lost in the wilderness, others who were prisoners, and sailors who found themselves caught in a terrible storm. They were frightened, desperate, and didn’t know how things would turn out. But when they cried out to the Lord, He heard them and helped them. The psalm reminds God’s people to remember what He has done and to thank Him for His goodness.
I think we can all relate to this. When we’re facing a new problem, it’s easy to forget how God helped us through the last one. We start worrying again, wondering how things will work out, even though we’ve seen His faithfulness so many times before.
And being thankful doesn’t mean we have to pretend everything is fine. We can be grateful to God and still have questions, worries, and things we’re praying about. One doesn’t cancel out the other.
There’s also a beautiful example in the life of Yeshua. When He was about to feed the thousands, He took the bread and gave thanks to His Father (John 6:11). There wasn’t nearly enough food for everyone, yet He gave thanks for what was in His hands.
Maybe we can learn to do that a little more often. Instead of always thinking about what’s missing or what still needs to change, we can take a moment to appreciate what God has already given us.
So here’s a small encouragement for this week. Think of something the Lord has done for you, perhaps something you’ve almost forgotten about, and thank Him for it. And when the next worry comes along, remind yourself that the same God who helped you before is still with you today.
Our prayer this week:
Heavenly Father, thank You for all the ways You have helped me, even when I didn’t always notice. Please forgive me for the times I focus so much on my problems that I forget Your goodness. Help me to remember Your faithfulness and to be more thankful for the blessings in my life. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.