Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Giving Thanks in the Hard Times

For many, Thanksgiving is a time of great joy and blessings. For others, it's another reminder of loss and hardship. It's a difficult thing to praise when the heart is bleeding; to offer thanks through scalding tears. But it can be done, and new strength and deep joy can be found in doing so! 

"I Will Praise Him, Yes, I'll Praise Him"
(Author Unknown)

If the fields refuse the harvest, 
And the trees no longer bear,
If the flocks forsake their shepherds,
And my head is bowed with care, 
Yet, I know His ways are wond'rous, 
With this man made out of dust,
So these lips of clay shall praise Him,
Though the world be turned to rust.

I will praise Him, yes, I'll praise Him,
There will be a better day, 
There will be a bright tomorrow,
God will never pass away. 

If the roses lose their fragrance, 
And the birds no longer sing, 
If the rivers cease their flowing, 
And the bells refuse to ring, 
Still I know that God's in Heaven, 
And I know that all is well, 
And these lips shall sing His praises, 
And the Gospel story tell. 


I will praise Him, yes, I'll praise Him,
There will be a better day, 
There will be a bright tomorrow,
God will never pass away. 


If my body suffers torment,
doth not he, my Master know?
Who am I to ask the Potter, 
Why He made the vessel so?
And if wealth and friends forsake me, 
Be my home an empty room,
Yet I'll stand and call Him "Blessed"
For the triumph o'er the tomb. 


I will praise Him, yes, I'll praise Him,
There will be a better day, 
There will be a bright tomorrow,
God will never pass away. 

~ * ~

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

~ * ~

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls--

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet, 
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV)

If you are facing difficulties this Thanksgiving, take comfort in the fact that God has not forgotten you. There will be a better day; a bright tomorrow! Take heart, and praise Him in the storm!


Jessica is a follower of Jesus Christ, the wife of an amazing husband, and the mother of four children who are the loves of her life. She is passionate about homeschooling, enjoys spending time with her family more than anything else,  would rather buy a new book than new clothes, is always starting on a diet, and thinks that chocolate is the next-best medicine to laughter. Other than reading, her favorite hobbies are music, decorating, blogging, and making attempts at photography. She blogs about this, that, and the other at www.itsthelittlethings4.blogspot.com.

4 comments:

  1. Do you know if there is music to the above poem? Thank you.
    Godsroyalfamily@juno.com

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  2. Yes, there is, but I don't know where to get the sheet music. I only play it by ear. I'll see if I can find it for you, though! ~Jessica

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  3. If you could post a file with the melody line, a musician could transcribe and write it out for us.

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  4. Thank you for the song and verse. This was the right song at the right time. It has comforted me during these difficult times.
    I know how to sing the song and I have heard it on you tube.
    Thank you and God bless you

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