God’s Will and the Spirit of Thanks

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Giving thanks is really easy when things are looking up and seem to be going well for me, but when things are rough and the future doesn’t look very bright it is very hard to give thanks ‘in all circumstances’.

I find that in order to get out of my depression I have to pray to God to give me the spirit of thanks so that I can pray with thanksgiving and mean it. It takes work, but it does help. It doesn’t come quickly and it isn’t a fight with my own flesh that would just rather question God for this strange direction that I am being taken in, but I know that, bases on experience, I will not only feel better, but God also sends along a spirit of courage to press on despite the obvious obstacles that have come up.
I suffer from some pretty bad depression and only through working with my spouse to be aware of the signs that it is approaching have I been able to fight against this on my own as well. I am so thankful that God put her in my life!

I know that God loves me more than I can comprehend and he certainly would want the best for his child, but then, sometimes life happens and it certainly isn’t perfect – here on earth. But even though I know God’s unconditional love is always there, I get used to it and expect more. I want more than just his love, my flesh creeps in and I think silly thoughts, If God loves me so much how come I am not some millionaire entrepreneur or some other earthly desire. It’s that immediate gratification that thinks it needs to be fed.

I need to keep my eyes focused on things above and not about the things of this earth that will pass away. I may want a life of comfort, but that may not be want God has for my future and I must give thanks and take heart that God knows better.