How we thank God and what we thank Him for usually vary according to situation.  I think it is a given, the better the situation is, the more selective the item of thanks and the more lavish the expression will be.  Inversely the worse the situation is, the simpler the item of thanks and the expression will be.How we thank God and what we thank Him for usually vary according to situation.  I think it is a given, the better the situation is, the more selective the item of thanks and the more lavish the expression will be.  Inversely the worse the situation is, the simpler the item of thanks and the expression will be.

Darlene Deibler Rose was a missionary in Sulawesi when World War II broke out.  She, her husband, and other fellow missionaries were consequently detained in Japanese prison camps.  However, in spite of her poor and trying condition she still found reasons to give thanks to God.  In fact she says, “I had much to be thankful for.”

In her prison camp there was a mean guard whom she named, “the Brain.”  Once she had to pass the gate and it just so happened that the Brain did not notice her walk by.  Just for that simple happening, she “poured out” her gratitude to God.  Even when she cried, she thanked God for the tears because, “tears were a gift from Him to ease the hurt, a gift to be shared with others who were hurting.”

I don’t think in normal circumstance we would give thanks to God for not being seen by somebody or for shedding tears.  But, in an abnormal circumstance, not being noticed and tears are more than enough to make us want to give thanks to God.  Every little thing becomes a precious blessing from God!

Darlene was very much aware of the devastating effect of cruelty that she was subject to.  It was therefore her prayer to God, “if I come out of this war alive, I may be ‘sweet-smelling’—not bitter or cynical.”  Oh yes, there is nothing more sweet-smelling than being grateful to God!  It is the antidote for bitterness.

Pastor Paul
Darlene Deibler Rose was a missionary in Sulawesi when World War II broke out.  She, her husband, and other fellow missionaries were consequently detained in Japanese prison camps.  However, in spite of her poor and trying condition she still found reasons to give thanks to God.  In fact she says, “I had much to be thankful for.”

In her prison camp there was a mean guard whom she named, “the Brain.”  Once she had to pass the gate and it just so happened that the Brain did not notice her walk by.  Just for that simple happening, she “poured out” her gratitude to God.  Even when she cried, she thanked God for the tears because, “tears were a gift from Him to ease the hurt, a gift to be shared with others who were hurting.”

I don’t think in normal circumstance we would give thanks to God for not being seen by somebody or for shedding tears.  But, in an abnormal circumstance, not being noticed and tears are more than enough to make us want to give thanks to God.  Every little thing becomes a precious blessing from God!

Darlene was very much aware of the devastating effect of cruelty that she was subject to.  It was therefore her prayer to God, “if I come out of this war alive, I may be ‘sweet-smelling’—not bitter or cynical.”  Oh yes, there is nothing more sweet-smelling than being grateful to God!  It is the antidote for bitterness.

Pastor Paul