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How can I be thankful for that? When tragedy strikes a well-meaning soul says, "you should be thankful you didn't have this happen." Our legitimate response is, "wow, not helpful. Thanks." Then we meet the soul who never seems to care about anything that happens. However, between Job's comforters and blissful ignorance there is a medium way. It's why I love the Psalms. They never sugar coat suffering. They echo the cry of Jesus [Quoting Psalm 22] "My God why have you forsaken me?" The Psalms offer a pattern for helpful lament or complaint, while tempered by thankfulness and gratefulness. In my personal and professional experience, I'm amazed at those who demonstrate a spirit of gratefulness amidst adversity. Throughout my career and personal life, I have dealt with unbelievable trauma and suffering. So, I asked myself the question, how do folks endure such trauma? Suffering is unexplainable. Nevertheless, even as tragedy unfolds I have seen the transformation to hope and gratefulness.
God gave me promises amidst medical treatments a few years ago, and each day, amidst suffering I chose to find something to be grateful for and publicly shared to encourage others. It transformed me, causing me to reflect, how can I be thankful in life's adversity? How can those on the other side of a code, a serious illness or a tragedy ever be grateful? Psalm 69 reveals that human suffering is real. Action words in this Psalm are powerful:
Sinking, overwhelming, exhausting, weeping, suffering. Yet, praying, singing, hoping, trusting, giving thanks.
Here are three practical suggestions:
Be realistic: Complain-it’s ok. Don't ignore or downplay suffering but find hope amidst it. Psalm 69 demonstrates this well. It talks about calamity, isolation, loneliness, and suffering, and thanksgiving!
Be thankful: Powerfully, this Psalm moves from complaint to thankfulness. It declares, "save me, O God...deeper and deeper I sink and the floods overwhelm me." It goes on to talk about "exhaustion" and "weeping" but then says, "But I keep praying to you, LORD, and "hoping." Though "I am suffering and in pain," I will praise God's name with singing and I will honor him with thanksgiving." (Ps 69).
Sing: Music heals the soul, and I have found it healing in my life and ministry. This year, no matter what you face, find hope in your faith, in the strength of others and God.
Complain, yes. Give thanks, yes.
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Dan Hamilton is the chaplain at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital.