Thanksgiving is coming up in a few days. The one day we set aside each year to pause our busy lives and intentionally reflect on all we have to be thankful for. We normally gather as many relatives as we possibly can around the table, packing them in until it is standing room only. For many families, the scene may look a little different this year as some family members opt to stay home (or are asked to stay home) due to health issues that they have and not wanting to struggle if they should get COVID-19.

I know that having to make these decisions and to go through all of this is extremely frustrating. We just want everything to be back to normal and Thanksgiving to be what it always was. It may be difficult for many this year to feel thankful instead of aggravated. But, in the face of all of this, we know that God is calling us to be filled with gratitude not just on Thanksgiving but every day of our lives.

The Bible is filled with many passages on gratitude and many, many more on things that we should be thankful for. One passage that sticks out to me this year is Lamentations 3:22-23:

“The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, for His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

It is through the mercy of God that we are granted favor, forgiven of sin, and restored to a state of righteousness or justification in accord with God’s righteous standards. In short, mercy is the act of withholding deserved punishment.

Indeed, there is much for God to give us mercy over. We are sinful creatures that so often fall far short of the lives that God is calling us to live. I know that this is especially true in my own life.

I mess up … A LOT. If there was a way to exhaust the mercy of God, I am pretty sure that I would have accomplished it by now, and yet He has graciously given me this day. I am blessed with another opportunity to serve Him and praise Him. I am incredibly thankful that, “The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end.”

I don’t even know if I should chuckle or cry over what is contained in the second verse mentioned. We are told that God’s mercies “are new every morning.” God knows that I am going to find a brand-new way to mess up, sin and fall short today. Today will be like no other day before, and my sins will not be the same as they ever were before (even though I try my best to be obedient).

But I do not need to fear for God is ready and prepared with brand-new acts of mercy ready to be given. Great is your faithfulness, God!

In the midst of the temptation to complain and grumble over the myriad of reasons we may have to justifiably do so, pause to recognize that God has reason to do so as well. Instead of doing just that, He instead shows us great mercy, compassion and love. As we gather together this Thanksgiving, I pray we may do the same as well.