When ‘thank you’ is the hardest word to say.

At our church we have recently been thinking about how [often] we say thanks to God. Usually when we think about saying thank you it is because we have received something good which we can excitedly give thanks for. But there is an [often untapped] source of strength when we thank God in times of hurting as well as rejoicing.

As always it is a pretty safe bet to take our lead from Jesus. Look at what he does here:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.” Matt 26:26-27

This is at the Last Supper. Jesus knew [fully] what lay ahead for him tomorrow [and the following few days in the grave] and he knew that one of his close friends would betray him with fatal consequences. Despite this he gave thanks and genuinely meant it despite the pain. More than that, he shared his thanksgiving with everyone even those who would later desert and deny him.

How frail my thanksgiving seems in comparison to his!
Jesus let thanksgiving govern his life rather than his thanksgiving being controlled by his circumstance. What would Jesus do? He’d give thanks to God even though he was about to have all his friends turn on him and loose his life.
Our attitude should be the same as Christ’s and so let’s give thanks to our God!