Right before Thanksgiving Break I prepared a chapel devotional for school.  It went undelivered, as our regular chaplain returned after weeks in the hospital.

It turns out that he had a large tumor along a major artery, and nearly bled out and died on at least two occasions.  He has been diagnosed with stage four cancer, and has already begun the usual regimen of chemotherapy and radiation.  Please lift up Father Jason Hamshaw in your prayers.

While I did not deliver this message, it seemed apropos to Father Hamshaw’s diagnosis, and something we all need to remember from time to time.  Here is my message on “Being Thankful in the Storm”:

We have so much to be thankful for here at [our school]. We share strong friendships, create lifelong learners, celebrate successes, and support one another through troubles.

Thanksgiving is one week away, and I would encourage each of you to take time this week to reflect on all the blessings in your lives. No matter who you are or what you are facing, you can take joy and give thanks for the good things the Lord has done in your life.

Sometimes, though, it is hard to give thanks. We all go through times of struggle. We all face failures and disappointments. None of us in this room will be able to avoid tribulations.

But is precisely in those moments that we should thank God the most. That might seem counterintuitive, but when we remember that God is Good—and that He is Good all the time—it makes much more sense.

I have a longer reading from Psalm 34:1-10 (NKJV). David wrote this Psalm while fleeing Israel. He was so desperate, he took refuge among the Philistines, the mortal enemies of the Israelites. David knew that King Abimelech and his people would kill David, so David pretended to be insane so the Philistines would take mercy on him.

It does not get much lower than that! But notice here that David does not complain to God. Instead, he praises Him, and writes about how good God Is:

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The [a]angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no [b]want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

The Word of the Lord—Thanks Be to God! Let us pray.

There is so much to unpack there, but I will point to three quick items:

• God Protects the most vulnerable—and He Protects us at our most vulnerable: “I sought the Lord, and He Heard me/And delivered me from all my fears” (verse 4).
• God Answers prayer! “The poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him/And saved him out of all his troubles” (verse 6). What a blessing!
• God Is Good—All the Time!: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good/Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (verse 8). He Is Good—and we are blessed when we trust in Him!

There is so much trouble and strife in the world and in our lives, yet we can always take refuge in Christ’s Abundance Grace. God Has your back—what could be better?