“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.”
Reflection
Despite what sounds like a cheery sentiment, the Psalmist is anything but. If we read the entire chapter, we see that this faithful writer is looking out at the world around him and it is filled with all kinds of wickedness. He believes they are headed toward destruction.
The Psalmist has taken refuge in the Temple when he pens these verses. And he asks for God’s protection amid all the chaos. But then he shares these words:
My heart trusts…
It leaps for joy…
With singing, I’ll praise him…
On this Thanksgiving Day, we embark upon another holiday season. Today, many of us will gather with loved ones to eat good food and give thanks for God’s many blessings. But as is true every year, for some of us, things may not be quite so cheerful. Perhaps this year, you look around and like the Psalmist – all is not well in your world or even the world. Maybe it causes you to feel a bit conflicted or guilty over how grateful one should be.
Yet in a moment just like that, the Psalmist pauses for gratitude. The Psalmist leans into joy. The Psalmist chooses to trust that even in chaos he serves a God who makes a way. Why? Because one of the primary ways God brings us through challenges, chaos, and pain is by inviting us to lean into whatever good thing God has given us – on a day like this one or for a moment, however brief – and say thanks.
Today, we can choose to do things like sing, or paint. We can laugh and hug. We can stop to feel the fresh breeze on our face. We can pause to enjoy silence in our noisy world. We can find the good thing – whatever it is and give it space. Because as people of faith, we know that when we choose gratitude, gratitude gives way to hope. And hope gives way to faith. And faith gives way to new life.
My prayer for you on this Thanksgiving Day is that you might experience one moment that makes your heart leap for joy today. For these are not only what make the world bearable, but they remind us that Emmanuel – the God of Advent and of every day – is drawing near.
by Kate Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
Think back over your experiences from the last 24 hours. Can you think of a moment when you celebrated, felt grateful, or experienced joy? What is one thing you can do in the next 24 hours to intentionally choose gratitude and joy?
Prayer:
For all the love that is around me,
And for Your hope that sustains me,
God, I thank you.
Help me to choose gratitude today,
And trust that Your Spirit is at work for me and within me,
Offering goodness
When I can see it, and even when I cannot.
Amen.
