Thankfulness can lead to many things.

There have been many times that great tragedy has struck and people still fell to their knees and thanked our Father God for His great mercies.  By preparing for the day of thankfulness, we might actually be preparing our hearts and minds for the Worship of Jesus Christ.

Some of the most trying times in history could have led people to doubt or to turn their backs on God, but instead it led to greater thanksgiving than they could have possibly imagined.

Job was greatly tested, but did not falter in his faith.  Instead, Job praised God  in his darkest hour.

Job 1: 20-22 (NIV)  At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Paul and Silas were beaten, whipped and chained in a jail cell.  Their faith was not faltered.  As a matter of fact, their faith led to the salvation of others.

Acts 16:25 (NIV)  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 

Brave, strong men have been brought down to their knees over the centuries. They were brought to a place where Satan was to conquer them but instead they showed greater worship than most people could attest to in our modern times.  Their thankfulness was to stand as a testament for us all to follow.

The Pilgrims were brave men, women and children who faced religious persecution if they did not choose to leave their home country.  They could have easily given up their faith and stayed comfortable in their homes, or they could have taken up their cross and follow the path that God presented to them.  Without these people being a fine example of thankfulness in their opportunities, our religious liberties may be under attack or even non-existent.

Today I am thankful for God the Father, Creator of all life.  Without Him I would not have a beating heart or a breath in my lungs.  Without Him I would not have a soul in my being or the capacity to love.  Without Him, life would be nil.

Maybe it takes bravery to be thankful.  A child wouldn’t believe that, but as we grow older and more aware of the direction of the world, we seem to have to step lightly when it comes to demonstrating our faith or morals.  God doesn’t want us to be afraid.  He wants us to praise Him and to be thankful in the storms of our lives.  Don’t just be thankful for simple and obvious things, but be brave like Job, be brave like Paul and Silas, and be brave like the Pilgrims.  Be thankful in all things and on all days, and don’t forget to let the world know why you are thankful.