In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

In the classis autobiography, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of her sufferings at the hands of the Nazis during the evil reign of Adolph Hitler. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were incarcerated at the Nazi concentration camp, Ravensbruck, and experienced terrible atrocities there. On one occasion, they were forced to disrobe before the German soldiers. In that awful, humiliating moment, an amazing discovery came to Corrie’s mind: “They took Jesus’ clothes too. He hung naked for me.” When she relayed that wondrous thought to Betsie, she gasped and said, “Oh, Corrie, and I never thanked Him for it.”

One of the things that made Corrie and Betsie such dynamic Christians was the fact that they chose to see life from God’s perspective. In the worst of situations, they found new insights to praise and thank God.

The Bible tells us that we are to give thanks in everything, the good things and the bad things. In Psalm 50:23, God says, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.”  In the hard times, thanksgiving is difficult. It is definitely a sacrifice to thank God in a Nazi concentration camp, but it is so very necessary. Thanksgiving honors God, and when you and I honor God, He honors us.

How is your Thanksgiving 2020? Are you facing tough times? Have you been griping and complaining about the things in your life that are hard, lonely, and frustrating? Why not try praising and thanking God for your difficulty. He knows about it. He is over it, and He cares for you. Without question, He has a purpose in every trial.

Start today to live a life of thanksgiving. If you will do this, I promise you on the authority of the Word of God, your attitude will change, and the people around you will be blessed.