Being Thankful When its Hard to be Grateful
Jeremy Skaggs   -   November 3, 2024

Today’s sermon will delve into the challenging topic of maintaining gratitude during difficult times, focusing on Psalm 22. This powerful message will remind us that our faith journey isn’t always smooth, but even in our darkest moments, we can find reasons to be thankful.

Summary:

The sermon explores the raw honesty of Psalm 22, where the psalmist expresses deep anguish yet ultimately finds hope in God.

We will discuss the importance of acknowledging our true feelings as an act of faith, rather than hiding behind superficial platitudes.

The message emphasizes that being a Christian isn’t easy, especially when facing despair and discouragement, but we are still called to give thanks in all circumstances.

Takeaways:

  •  It’s okay to approach God with disappointment and express our true feelings.
  • We should acknowledge our difficulties and recognize when we feel overwhelmed or alone.
  • Even when feeling distant from God, it’s crucial to draw near to Him.
  • Cultivate thankfulness by focusing on future blessings and dreaming of what will be, not just dwelling on current circumstances.

As we continue our series on thankfulness over the next few weeks, where we will examine Psalms 22, 23, & 24, I encourage you to reflect on these lessons.

Remember, it’s in our most challenging moments that our faith can grow the strongest.

May God’s peace be with you as you practice gratitude in all seasons of life.

 

Blessings,

Pastor Jeremy

 

Sermon Outline

Being a Christian is not easy

Ethical implications of Jesus’ teaching

  1. Love and Forgiveness
  2. Humility and Service
  3. Sexual Purity
  4. Sacrificial Love
  5. Eternal Perspective

Handling Despair and Discouragement as Christians

  • Called to Give Thanks even in difficult seasons
  • Biblical references
  • James 1:2
  • 1 Peter 1:6
  • Romans 5:3
  • Philippians 4:4
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Exploring Psalm 22

  • Realness of emotions in the Psalm
  • Contradiction between theology and lived experience
  • Verses 1-18: Feeling forsaken by God
  • Verses 22-31: Shift to praise and hope

How to be thankful when it’s hard to be grateful

  1. Approach God with Disappointment
  2. Acknowledge Your Difficulties
  3. Draw near to God
  4. Dare to Dream

Next focus: Psalm 23

  • Thankful for God’s Guidance and Provision

Sermon Study Guide:

Opening Prayer: Begin with a prayer, asking God to open hearts and minds to His word and to guide the discussion.

Ice Breaker Question:
Share a time when you found it difficult to be thankful. How did you handle that situation?

Key Scripture: Psalm 22

Discussion Questions:

  1. 1. The sermon mentions that being a Christian is not easy. What aspects of Christian living do you find most challenging in today’s world?
  2. How do you typically respond when facing trials or difficulties? Do you find it easy or difficult to “consider it pure joy” as James 1.2 suggests?
  3. The pastor talks about the “realness” of Psalm 22. How does seeing biblical figures express raw emotions impact your own faith journey?
  4. In what ways have you experienced the contradiction between your theology (what you believe) and your lived experience?
  5. Discuss the four points the pastor gives on how to be thankful when it’s hard to be grateful (Disappointment, Difficulties, Draw Near, & Dream). Which one resonates with you the most and why?

Key Takeaways:

  1. It’s okay to express disappointment and raw emotions to God.
  2. Acknowledging difficulties is an act of faith, not a lack of it.
  3. Even in times of despair, we can choose to draw near to God.
  4. Focusing on future blessings can help cultivate thankfulness in difficult times.

Practical Applications:

  1. This week, practice expressing your true feelings to God in prayer, even if they’re difficult emotions.
  2. Write down three future blessings you’re looking forward to, and thank God for them in advance.
  3. Reach out to someone in the group who might be going through a difficult time and offer encouragement.
  4. Memorize one of the verses mentioned in the sermon (e.g., Philippians 4:4 or 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) to recall during challenging moments.

Closing Prayer:
End the session by thanking God for His presence even in difficult times, and ask for His help in cultivating a spirit of thankfulness in all circumstances.

Reminder:
Next week’s focus will be on Psalm 23, discussing how we can be thankful for God’s guidance and provision.