The Posture of Gratitude
For those who know the true Bible narratives, who have studied the pages of God’s Word, then the words: Praise, Joy, and Celebration do not readily come to mind when we recall the story of Job. Nevertheless, those are exactly the actions we should remember. Today, maybe you are reading and can only recall Job’s suffering—OR—maybe you are reading and have never even heard of a man named Job. On this day set aside to offer thanks, it’s imperative that we see the truth—
Gratitude is a posture, an action.
Meet the man Job. He was living his life, enjoying the fruit of his labor, raising his children with his wife, offering advice to others who looked to him for direction, especially financial advice. Job had worked hard during his lifetime to acquire much.
“Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
(The Book of Job 1: 2-3 NASB)
His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”
Life was good. We learn early in the passage how the events that happened next were allowed by the hand of God, when Satan approached God. Just imagining in my mind what that scene looked like baffles me. God spoke directly to Satan, the evil one, and before the conversation ended, the devil had asked God a question.
“Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
(The Book of Job 1: 9-11 NASB)
Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side?
You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has;
he will surely curse You to Your face.”
- Maybe even though today is Thanksgiving Day, you do not feel so thankful because life has been hard.
- Maybe you are walking through health issues and medical bills are arriving daily to your mailbox.
- Quite possibly, there will be an empty chair at the dinner table because it has remained vacant since someone you love has passed away, and now all you see is what you’ve lost.
Even when life is So Difficult, we can lift our hands in praise to Jesus for what He has already done. God promises to meet us, even in the hard. We have received the Word of God because we need reminders of God’s goodness. The man Job was walking through loss. Shortly after Satan’s questions, the LORD allowed Job to walk through a season of great loss: his family, his possessions, his marriage, his reputation, and his health. Job lost everything, and yet, by the middle of The Book of Job, we read these words of gratitude.
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
(The Book of Job 19: 25 NASB)
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”
Gratitude is a posture, an action.
Arms raised in praise & knees bent in prayer & eyes lifted to the LORD and fixed on JESUS & hearts anchored in God’s goodness & our bodies surrounded by faithful, encouraging believers in Christ. Even when EVERYTHING he loved was stripped away from him, Job realized his HOPE was anchored in the coming Redeemer—Jesus. We can praise God despite our life-situations, no matter what trials come our way, and in spite of what others might think or do. We can lift our hands in worship, in joy, in celebration BECAUSE CHRIST HAS WON THE VICTORY!
If you have read that last statement, then pause to listen to this melody and be reminded.
“Nothing to Me” by Chris Ekiss
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
(The Revelation to John 21: 3-4 NASB)
God makes it possible—
- To praise Him, even when we do not feel so thankful because life has been so hard.
- To speak of His goodness, even when we are walking through health issues, with medical costs.
- To celebrate and find joy, even as the empty chair at the dinner table stares at us today when we sit with our family at the Thanksgiving table.
- We who know Jesus as our Savior can praise our risen Lord, even when life is So Difficult.
We Can Remain in the Posture of Gratitude.
“For you will go out with joy
(The Book of Isaiah 55: 12 NASB)
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”