Thanks for the Heartache | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Thanks for the Heartache | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jonna Turek
04/24/05
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“Praise God from whom all blessings flow…", many of us sing those words every week as some part of our church’s worship service. The music is majestic as the words written by Thomas Ken in 1709 soar through the sanctuary, “Praise Him all creatures here below”, lifting hearts as well as voices. For those brief moments, at least, we are united in thanksgiving for the many blessings received.

Some congregations use the traditional "Old 100th" tune from the 16th century, while others use the March and Avery version from 1967, or even set the words to the tune more familiarly used for St. Francis’s "All Creatures of Our God and King". Whatever the melody, the refrain remains consistent. I doubt that one would ever hear, “Praise God from whom my struggles flow, praise Him for pain and suffering here below.” And yet, why shouldn’t we?

Paul tells us in his letter to the Thessalonians to, “…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thess. 5:18 NIV) Many a preacher and Sunday school teacher has explained this verse as an admonition to thank God for going with us through the difficult times, not an instruction to actually thank Him for difficulty itself. Certainly, we are most devoutly grateful for God’s unfailing presence, especially in our pain and despair. However, if we believe God is who He says He is, then we must believe that He is all-powerful, as well as ever-present. He is not just the big hand-holder in the sky, after all.

If God is omnipotent, and if He takes personal interest in each of His children, as the Bible says He does, and if He loves each one of us as His most precious child, then it follows that anything that happens in one’s life has been allowed to happen by God. And not allowed because He couldn’t prevent it. Allowed because it was good for us, perhaps the very best thing possible for us, at the time.

I do not believe that God torments us for His amusement, as many pagans believed of their false gods, but He sometimes allows painful experiences to come into our lives because they further His perfect, loving will for us. Perhaps the painful experience we have actually prevents an even more painful one. Or perhaps it is necessary for our salvation, or someone else’s.

As one goes through life, it is helpful to remember that we are in the refiner’s fire, being purified for our good and His glory.

So, I think the glorious heart-song that is "The Doxology" could do with another verse; one giving thanks for whatever our loving God blesses us with, be it joy or sorrow, one to be sung, through our tears, with thanksgiving.

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