Susan Lutz. Thankfulness: Even When It Hurts. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, April 1st 2002. 22 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This biblical counseling booklet addresses the issue of being thankful. Specifically it addresses the need to be thankful to God even when there is life difficulties. The booklet is part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing and this was one of the earlier volumes. Like other booklets in this series this was helpful. Personally I have used this particular title for own edification, for counseling as a Pastor, for a devotional with my wife and also I’m planning on reading it together with one of our church’s small group.
Similar to other works in this series there’s a lot in these 22 pages so don’t let the size fool you. After a two paragraph introduction the section of the book is as follows: “Thankfulness is God’s Idea,” “Why Give Thanks?,” “A Taste of Our Inheritance,” “A Spiritual Preventative,” and “Thankfulness Amid Evil.” Each section runs for a few pages. I enjoy the concise writing style of the author.
In the introduction of the book the author made the point that thankfulness seldom seems to fit the situation we are in and even more so when were in the midst of pain. Yet being thankful to God is an important duty God has called us to carry out. The two section of the booklet that I enjoyed the most was “A Taste of Our Inheritance,” and “A Spiritual Preventative.” In “A Taste of Our Inheritance,” the booklet gives us six ways how we are drawn closer to God when we thank God even in the midst of our pain and trials. I also thought it was very good that the book also covered how the discipline of being thankful to God also is a spiritual “preventive” in that “If you make the choice to be thankful, there are a lot of battles you probably won’t have to fight” (15). This was a very good point to meditate upon and even for readers who currently are not undergoing trials at the present moment it enforces the importance of living a Christian lifestyle of being thankful to God. Here the booklet give some example of how being thankful to God is helpful for day to day life.
If there’s a constructive criticism I would have is that I think the booklet could benefit from discussion questions. Here are the discussion questions I wrote up for this booklet along with page numbers where the discussion takes place:
- Why are we not thankful (5-6)?
- What is the solution to our lack of thanksgiving (6)?
- Why is being thankful important for us (7)?
- How does being thankful to God strengthen our relationship with God? Identify the six reasons (7-14).
- What problems are prevented when you are thankful (15-16)?
- What did you get out of the section “Thankfulness and Evil” (16-22)?
Nice adding those questions
Thanks! Our church small group will be using those questions Friday! If you are led pray for that
If course. The way I figure it is that when somebody asks that is the leading
Many years ago as a young mother in a Sunday school class with other young mothers we studied this very topic. One of the mothere had a child that was challenged with serious health issues. After a trip to the hospital and she was back in church a sassy young mother confronted her, ” Did you give thanks? Thankfully she was able to answer” Yes I did.”. Not only did it shut up the sassy mom but it put a deep impression on me . Give thanks always for this is Gods will. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Wow that wasn’t very nice of the sassy mother. Not nice at all. I can see why it was memorable! Sometimes Christians can be quite mean towards other Christians. I imagine you have seen these over the years more than I have…
People just don’t think before they speak.
Sounds worth a read Jim
I think that trials sometimes sharpens our perceptive of what we have to be thankful for.
Cheap enough for me to get on Amazon. Thanks
Great booklet ! Being thankful in the midst of trails changes the way we look at our situation and helps us to focus on Who God is…
Thank you Pastor Jim
Amen that’s very true and this book goes over that; I know this is true from personal experience and I imagine you would say the same. When we can be thankful to God in the midst of trials, that really is the Sovereign work of God in our hearts in sanctifying us to be more like Christ, Amen?
Amen!
Thanks for the review. Sounds like a good little booklet. Yes, we often dwell on our less-than-perfect circumstances rather than having a thankful heart for what we do have. Just contemplating our free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ should be enough to muffle our grumblings! I just thought about the martyrs of the Reformation era who chose burning at the stake rather than bow to the consecrated wafer. What’s to gripe about?
So much of our trials and difficulties need to be put in perspective as you mentioned. When I preach I often tell our people that as Christians our biggest problem have already been dealt with: How to be right with God and not be under His wrath and go to hell. In light of Christ’s suffering for our salvation and what other Christians in other era and presently in the world go through for their faith, we have little to gripe about. Going on a tangent, how is your wife’s recovery and health doing?
Re: my wife’s recovery
Thanks for asking! She is healing according to schedule, but it will be a long haul. She won’t be going back to work for two more months. We have some tension because we’re both over-tired and she’s frustrated about not being able to have everything in the house the way she wants it. I on the other hand don’t mind some relaxation of the household standards. 🙂