It is a comfort that He is at hand

It is comforting to know that the Lord is at hand... Here is a medicine to relieve grief and every bad circumstance and every pain.  What is it?  To pray and to give thanks in everything.  He does not wish that a prayer be merely a petition but a thanksgiving for what we have received ... How can one make petitions for the future without a thankful acknowledgement of past things?  So one ought to give thanks for everything, even what seems grievous.  That is the mark of one who is truly thankful.  Grief comes out of the circumstances with their demands.  Thanksgiving comes from a soul that has true insight and a strong affection for God.  Homily on Philippians 15.4.4-7.

I missed Thankful Thursday yesterday because I was out of the house a lot.  

I'm thankful for some things that right now feel grievous.

Comments

[Beth]

"One ought to give thanks for everything, even for what seems grievous." This is true trust in God, isn't it? What you said last week about God being good, all the time. We are all tested in this, sometimes daily, in the news, in our lives, with our kids. God is good all the time, no matter what.

Thanks for the quote. We have a chalkboard up in our home and I think I'll use the last line on it as we enter into our (American) season of Thanksgiving. Happy belated Thanksgiving to you, Kim!