When everything goes, what remains?
Vanessa Bonilla
What constitutes a thankful heart? How do I know I have one? I sit at my quiet time journal daily and write something I'm thankful for but am I really thankful? I recently read an account in 2 Samuel that gave me a window into a thankful heart.
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of the failed king Saul. When Saul and Jonathan died in battle, those caring for Mephibosheth dropped him while trying to get him to safety making him lame for the rest of his days. When David became king, he looked for a descendant of Saul to bless because he made a covenant with his best friend Jonathan. They bring Mephibosheth to David and he says “I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table." (2 Samuel 9:7 NIV) David then places Ziba and his family as servants of Mephibosheth.
Here we are shown a picture of the love of God. God takes us in, no matter our condition. God, because of the covenant made through the blood of Jesus, gives us access to things we do not deserve. God blesses our minds, our bodies, our homes, our finances and so much more! God invites us to His communion table to eat at His table and to proclaim the Lord's death until He returns. God gives His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways. What a privilege! What an honor! What undeserved favor!
As time passes, David goes on the run and Ziba comes and tells David lies about Mephibosheth. As a result, David gives everything that belonged to Mephibosheth to Ziba. When David and Mephibosheth see each other once again they talk things over and David finds out Ziba lied and decides that it would be fair for them to share everything. It was Mephibosheth's response that opened my eyes to what a thankful heart truly is. "Let Him take everything, now that my Lord the king has returned home safely" 2 Samuel 19:30|
We come to a place in our lives like Mephibosheth where the initial joy of our first love has waned a bit and we begin to focus on the pain and sin in this world. Like Mephibosheth, others may leave us for dead; forsaking their responsibility to care for us. Our health may begin to fail or our finances begin to tank. We may lose many of the things we love in this life. In those moments of deep trials, what is our response? Do we become angry with God and others? Do we state our claim and fight to get back what was lost? Do we wallow in the depression of our situations? No! A thankful heart responds with:
Lord when difficulties and pain hit, You are enough.
When people abandon me, You are enough!
When my heart is tattered and broken, You are enough!
When my health fails me, You never will!
Lord, I'll let everything go because I know You are on the throne!
Lord, I know that no good thing will You ever withhold from those who walk uprightly, I can trust that this too shall pass.
When Christ is all we desire we can live a life of true thankfulness. When He isn't, there is nothing in this life that will truly satisfy!
Lord, help us remember that every difficult thing in our life is an opportunity to trust you more deeply and let a thankful heart rise from the ashes of this sinful broken world.
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Vanessa Bonilla lives with her husband, Eli, in Brooklyn, NY where she homeschools their five children. Vanessa is also the Children’s Director at her church, and she loves fire pits, friends, and spending time with her family. |