As we pursue being Mature and Mighty this year, it is no surprise that Gratitude should be expressed by mature believers – those who are fully devoted followers of Christ. We do have so much to be thankful for! The Bible is full of encouragement to give thanks:

Psalm 95:1–2 (NIV)
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 100:4–5 (NIV)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Even in difficulty, we can find reasons to give thanks…

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

And yet, we still want to live in the truth, think the truth, and speak the truth, correct? According to the Bible, we are to wear the belt of truth, think on things that are true, and speak the truth! Along with my gratitude, I want to be honest about my troubles, holding on to longing for a better place (heaven) and rejoicing in a giving God.

Much of life, especially this last twenty months, has been filled with disappointment and grief for many of us. And so, along with gratitude, I want to embrace sorrow and lament – even support those who are struggling this holiday – as a friend who can come alongside and “bear one another’s burdens.”

Matthew 5:4 indicates that we are blessed if we mourn, and Romans 12:15 encourages us to mourn with others in their season of mourning. James 4:9 goes as far as to suggest we turn our laughter into mourning.

So for me, this Thanksgiving I will not only seek to express gratitude but also seek to live in the reality of an often disappointing and painful world where we need to join together, support one another – and yes, even mourn together. Life can be hard, and we need one another. Who in your circle of relationships might need you to grieve with them today?