Unless you are living under a rock, or never leave the house and don’t watch TV or read current events, you know that times are kinda tough right now. Really, things are just plain hard.

Apart from everything else, across the country and across North Dakota, COVID-19 cases are sharply on the rise, growing scary-fast again. Our hospitals are concerned with the availability of services and beds, and politicians and medical experts are telling us we shouldn’t even see family on Thanksgiving and maybe still at Christmas. Anxiety is higher than ever.

But you know what? Believe it or not, I have an answer to this mounting anxiousness. Really? Really! It’s simple, even if maybe not easy. It’s being thankful. Truly, that’s it. Just be thankful.

In the book of Acts, the twelve apostles were arrested by the Jewish religious leaders for teaching about Jesus. They were jailed for the night and ultimately released, but not until after they were brutally beaten and warned not to continue. What was their response to being whipped until they bled?

They were thankful. Can you believe that? This is what Acts tells us: “Then they went out from the presence of the [court], rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.” (Acts 5:41 CSB)

Medical and psychological experts, inside and outside of faith, are quick to tell us that being thankful makes us healthier and happier. Though it may not seem like it, there’s always something to be thankful for. Our immediate troubles will end, more will come and so will joy and happy things. With this being Thanksgiving weekend, what can you be thankful for? If you belong to Jesus, you have everything in the world to give thanks for. Even apart from Jesus, you can find things to give thanks for.

Speak of these thankful things when anxiousness rears its ugly head. Make it a practice to give thanks when everything is going well, and to give thanks even when things look dismal. When our attitude changes, so do our circumstances.

God bless you and Happy Thanksgiving.