Thankful to be Peaceful

Andrae Crouch was one of my all-time favorite Gospel singers and composers. These words are from his song, “Through it All”:

“I’ve had many tears and sorrows / I’ve had questions for tomorrow / There’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong / But in every situation / God gave me blessed consolation / that my trials come to only make me strong.

Through it all / through it all / I’ve learned to trust in Jesus / I’ve learned to trust in God. / Through it all / through it all / I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.”

Andrae wrote that song based on the struggles and wins in his life.
John Newton wrote “Amazing Grace” based on his spiritual conversion after being a slave trader.
Horatio Spafford wrote “It is Well with My Soul” after the death of his son and subsequently the loss of his four daughters when their ship sank.

If alive, those authors of some of the most renown songs ever written, would tell us this: “Horrific struggles in life often produce some of the greatest masterpieces of our lives.” A powerful peace was prevalent that centered them in the awareness of God’s presence.

The truly thankful person is a truly peaceful person – no matter what! Thankful people have created a habit of noticing, pausing, and choosing.

They NOTICE something to be thankful for no matter the circumstance. They PAUSE to acknowledge this “something” as a reminder of God’s presence. They CHOOSE to focus on God’s presence until His powerful peace consumes them.

I know we have reasons to be concerned about what the future holds. But we will come through these times unscathed because we’ve been noticers, pausers, and choosers. We are people of thanksgiving no matter the circumstances.

Thanks-giving people. That’s us! Daniel’s prayer of thanksgiving in the lions’ den resulted in God miraculously shutting the lions’ mouths.

After three days in the belly of a whale, the cry of Jonah’s heart before he was delivered onto dry land was thanksgiving.

Paul the Apostle’s mode of operation in the prison cell was this in Philippians 4:6? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God.”

The outcome of each of those situations while offering thanksgiving was peace. Peace — powerful, unexplainable peace. Paul went on to write: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).