We are approaching Thanksgiving—the day we have set aside as a nation to give Thanks to God for all the blessings He has bestowed on us—as a country and as individuals.
I want to share a video in which people discuss giving thanks to God during one of the most stressful and tragic events of their lives at that time—the Great Thompson flood. Why—you may ask, is this a timely video?
I believe our country is going through a stressful and tragic event right now. People are suffering physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. Our nation is suffering. The world is suffering.
In this video—a few people retell the events of July 31,1976—the night of the Great Thompson Canyon Flood, in Colorado. 7 women on staff with Cru lost their lives in that flood. A total of 144 people lost their lives in that flood, and 88 people were injured.
Ney Bailey said that she almost lost her life 3 times in this flood. She said that when she and some others got to a safe place –they prayed, they thanked God. She quoted the verse, “In everything give thanks because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thess. 5:18
Later in the video, Ney said, “We become bitter to the degree that we don’t give thanks.” She also said, she did not feel thankful for the flood at the time, and she does not feel thankful for the flood now, but with her will she chose to give thanks to God.
Another thing that struck me, was that they talked about how each of the 7 Cru staff women that died, had been prepared to see the Lord—that God was getting them ready.
We saw this with our son Sean’s life—each of our sons and my husband testified at his funeral—that the last year of Sean’s life, he was serious about his walk with God—making decisions on his own—to draw close to the Lord. I have seen this in other loved ones’ lives as well—that God prepared them to see Him before they died. That is such a comforting thought to me.
Is there any encouragement in this? I think there is—and I think we can find it in the example of other people of faith, and how they reacted during a time in their life where they faced death or faced the death of a loved one.
What did they do? They gave thanks. They did this because God tells us to give thanks in all things.
Why? Because God is King over all—He is King over the floods of our lives—He is using everything for good for us. Psalm 29:10 Romans 8:28
I have found this thought to be true in my own life.
So, this Thanksgiving, let us choose to give thanks to our God in all things!!
Hoping you find encouragement from this video—I have watched it several times—and it never grows old!!
I hope you all have a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Encouragement for you!! 