When Thanksgiving Brings Grief...

In Nehemiah 9, God’s people remembered God’s faithfulness. Throughout their history, even though they have been unfaithful, God has always remained faithful to them and to his promise. They are reminded to give thanks for God’s grace, his mercy, his forgiveness. In the words of Jeremiah they can give thanks that despite their sin, “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end.” But there’s also a flip side. Just as our unfaithfulness shows off God’s faithfulness, so also God’s faithfulness shows how unfaithful we are in comparison… That is how thanksgivings for who God is can also bring grief in our hearts for who we are. We can confess who we are and where we fall, because we trust that our God will always be, for us, who our God truly is.