2 Corinthians 4: 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
As Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians, we have just passed the point where Paul has told us that as we see God’s glory (though dimly) we are being transformed into His image glory by glory (step by step, little glories followed by little glories) not by our own works; but by the work of the Holy Spirit. Immediately to follow this great promise, he begins to tell us that this great treasure (this power of the Gospel itself unto salvation) was given to us within these easily broken, fragile earthen vessels so that the Glory may be of God and not in ourselves. He points out that there will be sorrows, trials, and testing; but we are sustained by God Himself in the midst of all the trials. 2 Corinthians 4:
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
There in the midst of our trials we can see that there is a purpose. Not only do we see God in His Glory; but as He sustains our heart and we learn to praise Him for His Glorious Grace in each storm we become a beaconing light that redounds ( have an affect or consequence) of showing a world the magnitude of His Glory. We shine that light into the darkness with which the unbeliever lives in the hope that we might cause the eyes of their heart to see Him and seek after Him. This thankfulness that we feel in the midst of the storm cannot be a phony cover up. It is born out of sometimes years of trials, an understanding of who God is (with all His Mercy and Grace), a humility learned sometimes after many failures that gives greater depth and understanding of How Great is the Grace I have received. It is a Thanksgiving that comes from a heart tempered and so overflowing with love for God that Joy shines forth no matter what the current circumstances. It is founded on trust in the Omnipotent, Omniscient one who gave His very life that I might share in His love, His joy, and His Glory. So consider all this as Thanksgiving Day quickly approaches and ask yourself what do you have to be thankful for?