Thanking God for His Deliverance

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.- Psalm 107:1

As we approach Thanksgiving Day this week, I've had to evaluate my attitude; to find out if I'm truly thankful to God.

Recently, my family and I have sailed through many stormy seas. Having faced one adversity after another, I began to have anything but a grateful attitude. This was true until I read Psalm 107, a Psalm quite fitting for this season of Thanksgiving. As I read, I began to see that God had delivered me from adversity in the past and that He was willing to do so again and again. I should be thankful for the times when He helped me and my family and for His power to deliver us even now.

God, Our Deliverer

In verses 1 through 20, we are reminded of incidents where God delivered the children of Israel from trouble. They suffered in bondage and many afflictions because of their rebellion against God (v. 11 & 17). Yet, God rescued them when they cried out to Him.

Three times we are told:

“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses…” (verses 6, 13, and 19)

… and then each following verse spells out what God did specifically to help His people. We are given three accounts of God’s mighty acts to help us appreciate His loving kindness. If we didn’t get it the first and second time, the light bulb would surely come on the third time.

Just in case we’re wondering if God’s deliverance is only applicable to the Israelites in the past, verses 23 to 30 tell us otherwise. God still saves, delivers, and heals His people today! He is able to calm the storms in our lives, if we would cry out to Him:

28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.

Giving Thanks to Him

To emphasize the importance of thanksgiving, we are admonished five times in Psalm 107 to give thanks to God. For what? His goodness and the wonderful works He has done for us.

Even though we are surrounded by trouble, tossed about by the stormy winds of pain and sorrow, we can still reflect on God’s goodness in our lives. No matter how bad life may seem at this time, there have been days when God has delivered us from trouble, even the ones we created ourselves.

Verses 22 and 32 show us ways we can give thanks to God:

22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.

The sacrifices of thanksgiving could be anything we give to God that costs us something. For instance: a prayer or hymn of thanks when we’re hurting the most, money, valuable goods, or acts of service when it’s not convenient for us. And we give joyfully!

32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.

Public praise to God is also appropriate, so that others will learn about His goodness and loving kindness.

Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude

Psalm 107 shows us that God can turn any situation around. He brings judgment on the wicked and liberation to the oppressed and afflicted. When He does good things for us or other people, we ought to appreciate Him.

43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

One way to maintain a grateful heart is to keep a Thanksgiving Journal. Every time we receive an answer to prayer or an unsolicited blessing, we record it in our journal. We also write down the miracles we see God doing in the lives of others and thank Him on their behalf (“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” – Romans 12:15). That way, when we’re feeling down, we can go back and read our journals, remembering those mountain-top experiences. It is important to record these events because we have a tendency to forget, especially when overwhelmed.

Having an attitude of thanksgiving in the midst of suffering is only possible when we focus on God’s power to deliver us and not on our problems. Our problems depress us; God’s goodness enlivens us.

When we’re thankful and obedient to God, we are sure to receive a blessing from Him. He is faithful to deliver us and will do so in the best way (His way).

So for this awareness, I thank God. I thank Him in each storm, knowing that it is an opportunity to experience His power in a new and miraculous way. I thank Him for His everlasting goodness and loving kindness towards me and my family. I thank Him for His wonderful works in my life and the lives of others.

May you have a very Happy Thanksgiving as you recount the goodness of God in your life!