11-23-2025 Thanksgiving Anyway

Text: Habakkuk 3:17-19

                   This week we’ll be gathering with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It was my late husband’s favorite holiday because all he had to do was think about all the good food he would be eating and not worry about shopping for birthday or Christmas gifts.  Besides eating a delicious meal, it’s also a day that’s meant for us to reflect on the blessings we have in our lives and remember to always be thankful for what we have been given. 

                   When we remember the first thanksgiving celebrated by the pilgrims in their new land, we’re reminded about the good harvest they had and about the many good harvests that have been experienced in this country since then.  But we also remember the  many hardships the pilgrims had.  They lost half of their family and friends since arriving in the new land, but they gave thanks anyway for what they had. 

                   This morning we’re going to look at what the prophet Habakkuk had to say about being thankful, even in the hard times.  Our text is found in Habakkuk 3:17-19 where he wrote:  “ (17) Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no heard in the stalls; (18) Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (19) The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me walk upon my high places.  To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”  Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah for 23 years from 612 to 589 BC.  We learn from his writings that when he was bothered or troubled by something he brought his concerns directly to God.  After receiving God’s answers, he always responded with a prayer of faith.  He loved God enough to thank Him in distress, and he teaches us that we can be thankful even when things are difficult in our lives.

                   In verse 17 we see that Habakkuk envisions losing things that are vital to survival.  The fig tree doesn’t bloom, no fruit on the vines, olive trees don’t produce, fields yield no crops, and livestock are lost.  But the prophet resolves that he will be thankful anyway.  The Bible shows us many times how economic conditions will always change such as when Egypt experienced a seven-year economic depression and famine, and how Job lost his children and his wealth.  The United States experienced a great depression beginning in 1929 and didn’t see recovery until 1940.  And individuals always experience changes due to loss of jobs, poor health, or even due to bad investments.  But through all these things, God does not change.  Malachai 3:6 tells us “For I am the Lord, I change not.”  Hebrews 13:8 tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

                   Verse 18 of our text tells us that we are never far from problems in this life.  Everything around us is fragile and life itself is always uncertain.  But when we’re suffering we can be thankful for our salvation.  Habakkuk’s feelings and concerns weren’t dominated by the events around him but by his faith in God’s ability to give him strength to get through everything.  Our faith gives us the same assurance.  And we can be thankful because our salvation provides us eternal life as promised by John 3:16, John 5:24, and I John 5:11-13. 

                   We should also remember that we aren’t limited to these few years of tears and heartaches because eternity in Heaven is waiting for us as Jesus tells us in John 14:1-6.  And Peter confirms that the best is yet to come for us in I Peter 1:3-4.  When we get to Heaven, all the sadness, heart aches and difficulties will be a distant memory – if we think about them at all.

                   Verse 19 shows us that when we’re experiencing trials in this life, God will give us strength and give us strength and confidence through the most difficult of times.  We will more than survive, we will reach new heights.  At the proper time, God will bring about His justice and completely rid the world of evil.  In the meantime, as God’s children we need to live in the strength of His Spirit and remain confident in His ultimate victory over evil through the resurrection of Jesus.

                   Habakkuk had asked God why evil people prosper while the righteous suffer.  God’s answer to him was they don’t – not in the long run.  Evil will receive its justice from God.  Habakkuk saw his own limitations in contrast to God’s unlimited perspective and power over all the world’s events.  God sees what’s happening and has the entire world under His authority.  Like Habakkuk, we can’t see all that God has done, all that He is doing, and all that He will do.  But we can be assured that He is God and will do what’s right and what’s in our best interests.  We should be thankful that the sovereign Lord is our strength each day.  Habakkuk is showing us that when we stop allowing our feelings to be dominated by the events around us and instead let them be guided by our faith in God’s ability to give us strength, then when nothing makes sense or when our troubles seem to be more than we can bear, take our strength from God, and be thankful to Him for everything.  We need to take our eyes off our own difficulties and look to Him. When we make this a habit we will soon see that He has, does, and will always take care of us.

                   Today’s passage contains the most beautiful display of the power of true religion found in the Bible.  The language is that of a mind that has moved away from earthly enjoyments and instead is habitually engaged in finding the highest desires of God.  And, as we are told in I Thessalonians 5:18:  “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  It doesn’t mean that we should thank God for everything that happens to us but in everything that happens to us.  Evil doesn’t come from God, so we shouldn’t thank Him for it.  But when evil strikes, we can be thankful for God’s presence in our lives and for the good that He will accomplish through the distress and difficulties we’re experiencing.

                   So, as you enjoy your celebrations this week resolve to make it a habit to thank God every single day.  No matter what’s happening in our lives we should be thankful anyway.  Even in the toughest of circumstances, we can always find something to be thankful about.  Living a thankful life is a decision that we can easily make, especially when we remember what God has done for us through Jesus.  We now have a way to become members of His family and eventually live eternally with Him and all those who have gone before us.

                   Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.