“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:17,18

The Discipline of Thankfulness

Over the last few years as we’ve gone through all the various trials, I have read through the book of Job on a number of occasions. Job faced losses and trials in a way that few ever have—and yet his heart remained turned fully to God. I’ve wanted to learn from his example. I’ve hoped to find keys to help me get through the things I’m facing as I’ve read through his situation. In recent days, one verse in particular has stood out to me afresh.

In the first chapter, Job receives one messenger after another telling him that everything he had is lost: his 7,000 sheep, his 3,000 camels, his 500 yokes of oxen, his 500 donkeys, his 10 children, and even his servants…except for the few who survived to come tell him of each loss. From the narrative, it seems that it all happened in one day as one servant would be speaking…and another would come to tell of more bad news. It was quite a massive blow! He may have been the richest man on the face of the earth at that time—and suddenly it was all gone.

We know that calamities come into our lives, although not usually of this scale and scope all in one day. But what happens next is almost unbelievable. “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship” (Job 1:20).

This is the verse that has been impressed on my heart over and over again. I haven’t torn my clothes! (But I did lose all my hair with cancer treatment.) What I’m challenged by is that in the face of such tremendous loss…Job worshiped! Wow! It’s not what you think of in terms of circumstances for a good worship time.

I’ve found that it’s easy to worship when there are answers to prayer…when the sun is shining and it’s not too cold…when the bills are all paid…when the medical treatment is having good results…when all the appliances keep working…when no alarms are going off in the middle of the night…when the rest of our family is well and healthy…when life is going fairly smoothly. But—turn all those things and many others along with them upside down—and worship isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind!

This is one of the “disciplines” that I’ve been working on learning these last few years. I’ve found that it’s a key to persevering and surviving. Worship doesn’t always come easily when I’m staring something terrible in the face, but it does help lift the weight and heaviness off of what I’m facing when I choose to worship!

Worship, thankfulness, and gratitude helps turn the darkest moment around. The situation doesn’t disappear—how I wish it would! But there’s something about getting my eyes on Jesus and worshiping Him in the difficulty that lifts the weight of what I’m facing from my shoulders and onto the Lord’s. Being able to proclaim in statements of worship who God is and that He never changes, and being able to cast my burden on Him helps give me fresh strength to keep going.

I’ve tried to walk in this on this unexpected journey, and God reminds me of it again when I face new challenges with my health, my energy, and my treatment. I don’t like these things, but I’m choosing with Job to worship in response to them!

Lord, on the hardest day, in the most difficult situation, in every trial, You are worthy of our praise. Help us think the praiseworthy thoughts.