January 2020
I was sitting alone in a hotel room in Scottsdale, AZ, exhausted and overwhelmed. The day before, I got up at 4am in Illinois and spent the day navigating airports, hiking a cactus-riddled trail, eating tacos, arriving at the National Make it With Wool contest and attending an informational meeting followed by a get-to-know-you activity that lasted till 10pm. Did I mention the time change? That night, staying in a room with three girls I just met and having to share a bed with one of them, I didn’t sleep well. The following day was full of attending workshops, getting pictures taken, and talking with judges about the wool pants and coat I had sewn and the sweater I had knit. It was fun, but the extra hour standing in heels during judging did me in. With a few free minutes, I went back to my room, unsure of where my roommates were. We hadn’t hit it off anyway.
I sat down, alone and exhausted, debating whether or not I should fight the tears I felt coming. I let a few slip, very self conscious.
I had packed one task with me on the trip: my gratitude journal. That semester, I was in a philosophy class about suffering, and my professor recommended we each keep a gratitude journal to remember the good in life as we discussed suffering and the problem of evil. I committed to writing down 10 things I was thankful for every day.
Simple.
So, in Arizona, in the midst of difficulty, temptations screaming around me, the devil prowling like a roaring lion, I sat on the floor and started writing.
I’m thankful for…
- Being in Arizona
- The wool contest
- My parents coming with me
- Meeting new people
- The hike
- Safe travels
My breathing began to even-
- The leftover taco I had for breakfast (I still think about that taco )
Breathe in, breathe out.
- Warm weather in January
- A few minutes to myself
The need for tears left.
- My family
- Classes
- Professors, my friends I meet to pray with, the ability to sew and knit and compete with it, creativity, God’s creativity, God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Lord, you never leave me nor forsake me.
I didn’t want to stop.
My hand went slack, head leaned back against the wall, eyes closed, and a smile stretched my lips. “Jesus It’s been a hard day, but thank you for being so good.” In a few minutes, my distress turned to peace when I chose to be thankful and bring those praises to God.
It’s amazing what thanksgiving can do.
Thanksgiving is drawing near to God
The greek word for thanksgiving is “eucharista” which should look familiar. The eucharist, Lord’s supper, or communion has different sacramental interpretations, but all viewpoints include an important connection with God. So too, when we express thankfulness to God, we are drawing near to Him. And that comes with a promise,
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4.8a)
Do you draw near to God through thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is sacrifice
In the Old Testament, thanksgiving is usually a word attached to sacrifice. Leviticus outlines the sacrifices of thanksgiving that the people of Israel were to present to the LORD. These animals were their wealth, food, and companions. There is a reason the word “sacrifice” was used. Additionally, the eucharistic parallel should not be lost. As animals were killed and their blood shed, so too was Jesus’ body broken and his blood poured out.
The act of thanksgiving is closely tied to sacrifice, but we don’t sacrifice animals as the Isralites did. We are thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus, but thanksgiving requires sacrifice from us too. There is humility in thanksgiving. If I’m thanking God for the ways He has provided, encouragement He has given through people, and the ultimate hope I have in eternity with Him, I’m focused on God and not myself. My flesh covets control, but when I’m full of thanksgiving, I am acknowledging God’s control, not my own.
We have to give up pride, temptations to harmful emotional responses, and precious time to be thankful with an honest heart. In return, God will bless us abundantly. Blessings don’t usually show up how we expect, but God’s wisdom is beyond ours, which is something I make a practice of thanking God for. When I chose thankfulness in Arizona, I set aside my self-pity and was filled with peace, joy, and strength to finish the day.
What do you need to give up in order to be thankful?
Thanksgiving is resistance
Not only was the physical act of putting pen to paper and guiding the words into existence cathartic, but choosing to be thankful even when I didn’t feel like it was an act of defiance.
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7)
When you choose thankfulness, that is an act of resistance against the devil. Discouragement, discontentment, unthankfulness, rage, frustration, and many other common feelings are temptations first. You can say no. A great way to say no is to turn your attention to God, all He has done, His goodness, His promises, the hope you have in Him.
What can you resist today by turning to God in thanksgiving?
ABOUT MARIA
My name is Maria Schilder. I’m 23 years old and about to graduate from Wheaton College with a degree in English/writing. No, that doesn’t mean I want to teach or write novels. I have a strained relationship with fiction, and poetry and I have an even more difficult relationship, but we’re working it out. Nonfiction is my sweet spot. I care deeply about truth, and find creative Nonfiction the catalyst that works best with how I process my thoughts. This post is a taste of my blog-
The Faithful Rebellious, where I study the Bible and talk about living as a Christian. That is my space to share thoughts, experiment with writing, learn to communicate clearly and effectively, and encourage the body of Christ.
I also run a shop on Etsy selling handmade facemasks, totes, and backpacks. I started with only masks, and am now expanding to include unique upcycled bags.
I do my best to be sustainable and ethical. If you’re looking for masks with adjustable elastic straps, a built-in filter, a nose wire, minimal glasses fog, and space to breathe, take a look at my shop! While you’re at it, check out my designer bags.
Thank you Emily for letting me chat with your readers!
CONNECT WITH MARIA HERE:
https://thefaithfulrebellious.wordpress.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LlamaSpitStudios
@thefaithfulrebellious and @llamaspitstudios
Such an encouraging post! Cool to hear from a guest.
So grateful for your words Maria! What an important reminder to resist our flesh by choosing to practice Thanksgiving to God!