There have been so many things in my life that have gone unnoticed and unappreciated. Sometimes, I remember to thank God for things that I have or things that have happened. However, there are so very many other things that I have seemed to taken for granted. And then I wonder, “why don’t I have…?” It is almost as if I only see what I don’t have and I forget about the things that I do have. I don’t know if you experience sometimes as well, but I can say in full transparency that there are times that I get sad and feel like I don’t have what I thought I would have being a child of God. I thought that I would not have problems. I thought I would not have troubles. And I thought that I would have everything I wanted or needed. However, I was viewing God in the wrong way, and I was not reading the teachings of Jesus correctly. So, the Holy Spirit had to teach me over and over again. And I think I finally got it this time… at least this one anyway.
In John chapter 6, there is an event where “Jesus fed the 5,000”. These people had been following Jesus and listening to Jesus because “they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick (6:2).” They saw what He was doing for and giving to them. He and His disciples went up on a hill, and they could see the large crowd of people coming toward them to see what Jesus would say or do this time. Jesus knew that these people traveled a long distance, and He knew that they were hungry. He found this to be yet another teachable moment. So He asked one of His disciples where they could buy some food for the crowd. Philip said that they didn’t have anywhere near enough to buy bread for such a large crowd. But Andrew brought to him a boy that had five loaves of bread and two fish. However, Andrew also agreed with Philip that they didn’t have enough for such a big crowd.
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with the fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.(John 6:9-13,ESV)
Notice, Jesus “had given thanks.” He didn’t give thanks for what had already happened. Before anything, He gave thanks for what was about to happen. We know that God is True, and He fulfills His promises. He promises to provide. He provides for all His creatures. He feeds the birds and gives us “our daily bread”. We do not have strength or goodness of our own, but God gives it to us generously. He provides a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) and protects us from evil (James 4:7; Zephaniah 3:17). But God’s greatest gift is His Son (John 3:16), and because He gave us His Son, we can trust Him to give us everything else we need.
Jesus taught a parable recorded in Matthew 6:25-33. He tells us not to be anxious about what we eat or drink or what we will wear. With those directions, He gives us the examples of looking at the birds and the plants. And then, in verse 33, He tells us exactly what to do. He says, “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” And if we can remember that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Lamentations 3:22)”, then we can live with thanksgiving even when we don’t see the provision and protection right away. We know that He provides every needful thing for us. And in Philippians 4, there is an often quoted verse. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (verse 6, emphasis added).” I read this as thanking Him for what you are asking for knowing that He will give what is good and needful. If He withholds something, it is good and needful, and we thank Him for that as well.
"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18,ESV)
My son took something that was not his to take. He did not ask, and so I asked him why he took without asking. He told me that he wanted it. This was a moment to remind him of all that he already has, and that the item he took was put aside for his father’s dinner when he got home from work. He stated in one of those teenaged tones, “Well, I didn’t know.” To which I replied, “Well, if you had asked, I would have shared that with you.” In teaching children (regardless if they are your own or not), it is a thankless and repetitive service. Telling a now teenager the same principle that I have taught him since he was a toddler is sometimes frustrating. I think to myself, “Why can’t he just remember to ask?” But then again, I am a sinful person, and I get in my feelings sometimes.
God is perfect. He knows exactly what you need and what you want. And He has it all to give. However, some of the things that you want would do more harm than good. So, remember to ask. In all things, thank Him for it all. He knows how things would turn out if you received something you should not have and how things would turn out if you did not receive something that you should have. He knows it all. He sees it all. He knows YOU. He sees YOU. Thank Him for the experiences and provision that you do have, and thank Him for the experiences and things that you don’t have because they would do you more harm than good. He is just and merciful. He is the Perfect Father, Provider, Protector, Creator, and King of the Universe. And He loves YOU!
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 