Thankfulness

Today is the first day of the last month in 2022. Can you believe that? The older I get the faster it seems time flies. Early this morning as I woke up, the thought on my mind was thankfulness. I laid in bed and thought about how the year has been and wondered about what the future holds. It was not long before my thoughts turned and I started wondering whether we are in for a turbulent ten years ahead. With scarcity, lack and discontent, I wondered whether we are in for a rough ride in the next decade. Nurses, doctors, postmen and women, rail workers and many more on strike or about to go on industrial action. Even the weather feels gloomy. There are many reasons to complain and grumble, but there are many more reasons to be thankful.  Though we are prone to murmuring, we are called to be a thankful people. The Psalmist has a thing or two to say about thankfulness, so let's draw near and be encouraged by the wonderful insight from Psalm 95.

"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation". (Psalms 95:1, NKJV) Can you hear the emotion in the words of the Psalmist? "Oh come." This is the voice of someone who is moved by a deep knowledge and understanding. You can almost detect the joy overflowing in his voice as he makes this amazing invitation. The invitation comes to us all, not just for today but for all times. The Psalmist is calling for a collective worship, a procession of people joyfully giving their thanks to God. 

Sometimes when you are sad or depressed, you need someone who is full of joy to burst into your gloomy space uninvited, and captivate you with a new perspective of hope and joy. Someone who can lift you from the depth of despair and make you see a new horizon of hope. This is what the Psalmist is doing here. His focus is not primarily on your feeling, although he does not lack empathy. His motivation however is on something bigger, someone greater. His focus is on God, "the Rock of our salvation". 

The Psalmist is not moved by his or our circumstances in his thankfulness, he is moved by who God is. So he calls us to "sing to the LORD!" He calls us to "shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation". But how do you do that when you are down and feeling miserable? How do you find joy in a depressed state of mind? Well, the Psalmist has the answer - start singing! You may not feel like it. When you start, your voice may give way to cracks, but keep singing. Before you know it, your thoughts will turn to the words of your song. One of the songs I love is "All my life you have been faithful, all my life you have been so so good, with every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God".  Sing it, and sing it and sing it again. 

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Acts 16 and they started praying and singing hymns to God, "suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors {of the prison} were opened and everyone's chains were loosed" (Acts 16:26, NKJV). I believe that when we sing praises to God, our praises move Him to act. A depressive and sad mood can often be spiritual. It's often linked to a perspective or thought process that concludes that hope is far away or not attainable in the immediate future. And we all know that's not true, it is the lie that the devil tells to keep us in bondage. In the same way that doors flung open and chains became loose for Paul and Silas, so will depression and sadness lose their grip on you as you start singing praises to God. 

At the start of this December, come and join the joyful procession of believers who sing in spite of their circumstances. Sing to the Rock of your salvation. He is worthy of all praise. Amen!
Below is the song I mentioned above. Can I invite you to listen to it over and over again? Don't just listen, sing it and watch God break down your sadness and exchange it with His joy. The joy that flows from the Holy Spirit within. Real and tangible joy that changes not just your perspective, but gives you a living hope for tomorrow and the days to come.