Scripture
Psalm 103
Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness
Of David.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live[a]
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers that do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul. (NRSV)
Devotion
This morning, I managed to catch part of an interview that NPR did with an expert in cognitive science. One of the issues they discussed was the psychological importance of thankfulness. It turns out that expressing gratitude can have a profound effect on a person's mental and emotional state.
The scientist explained that during times of personal or social upheaval, it is tempting to focus on the things that are missing:
- The cancelled event
- The item we usually get but we can't find
- The empty place at the table
We see this kind of gratitude at work in Psalm 103. King David had more than his share of ups and downs, and there are plenty of psalms where he offers his laments to God. Here, though, David expresses deep gratitude and even joy for the ways that God has been present during the hard times. David notes that when the people are sick, God heals them. When they are in the pits of despair, God redeems them. When they are oppressed, God works for justice. When they are unfaithful to the commandments, God still remains faithful to them. And when they experience the consequences of their sins, God eventually shows them compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.
David's gratitude for God's presence during the bad times helps him see that life is not hopelessly out of control. God is still behind the wheel. Blessings are still pouring into people's lives. Paying attention to those blessings helps David and the people press onward during times of danger, turmoil and grief. They have confidence that same God who finds ways to bless them in those hard moments will lead them through to the other side. And so it is that David gives God thanks with all that is within him.
2020 has been a year of profound loss, and this holiday season is going to have some painful moments for many people...including myself. There are traditions that my family and I won't be able to carry out in the usual way. There are gatherings we won't have and dishes that won't be quite the same because we can't be with the person who usually makes them. Across my extended family, there are three seats at the table that have been made newly empty...and that will remain so until Christ comes again.
When I focus on everything that won't be the same and everyone that myself and others have lost, life seems pretty awful and out of control. But what might happen if shift my focus from what I've lost to what I can be grateful for? What if instead of wallowing in my sadness at my relatives' passing, I focus on how grateful I am for the time God gave me with them? What if we all spent a little less time bemoaning what 2020 has taken from us and a little more time expressing gratitude for the ways God is helping us get through it? I bet that if we did so, we would find that life feels a little more manageable...a little more dependable...a little more in control.
Beloved, there is a time and place for grief...and there is also a time and place for gratitude. When I go to bed tonight, I'm going to try my best to count my blessings. I hope you do as well. Perhaps if we all try counting blessings instead of sheep, we will find that life seems a little more manageable. Perhaps that gratitude and assurance will spill over into our interactions with others people and help them as well. And I pray that someday soon, we will find ourselves praising God with all that we are...just as King David did before us.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for my many blessings. Help me to recognize them, give thanks for them, and trust in their witness to your steadfast love and protection. In this time of turmoil, helps me find assurance in you and then share that assurance with others. Amen.
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