A Thanksgiving Reflection
by Pastor Charisse
One of the hardest sermons I ever had to preach was not at a funeral or for a class in seminary. The hardest sermon I ever preached was at my former congregation during the Fall as we were using the Old Testament and my assigned Sunday landed on the book of Job. I was not excited, honored, or inspired. To be honest, though, I had not spent much time with the Prophet and really only knew him by reputation—one that I wanted to steer clear of with my whole being!
So I dug in, and I focused on this well-known fragment from Job: “For I know that my Redeemer lives.”
And then I thought, ‘How? How do I know that Jesus Christ lives?’
The place I landed on was thanksgiving. I know that Jesus lives every day because of the blessings that flow around me and through me. Every. Single. Day.
COVID may prevent us from large gatherings for this year’s Thanksgiving feasts, yet we still ask the timeless question: “What am I thankful for?” I challenge you to spend some time in rest, silence, and reflection with these questions:
- How has living in this season of the pandemic made me more aware of the blessings in my life?
- Where do I see God?
- How do I know that my Redeemer lives?
Consider this lovely verse from Mindful Christianity Today:
Even when it is dark, the sun still shines.
Even when I am alone, there is love always waiting in the stillness.
Even when I am suffering, there is hope.
Even when I die, there is the promise of everlasting life,
and as Job proclaims in the Old Testament,
even though He slays me, I know my redeemer lives.