When Giving Thanks Is Hard: Finding God in Difficult Seasons
Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them. While Thanksgiving approaches and we're surrounded by messages about gratitude and joy, the reality is that not everyone feels thankful right now. Some of you woke up this morning not with "hallelujah" but with heaviness in your heart.
Psalm 137 gives us a powerful picture of what it looks like when gratitude feels impossible. The Israelites sat by the rivers of Babylon, weeping as they remembered their homeland of Zion. They had hung their harps on the poplar trees - their instruments of worship and joy were silent.
Their captors demanded songs of joy, asking them to "sing us one of the songs of Zion." But the people responded with raw honesty: "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?"
This psalm reminds us of something crucial: faith does not silence grief, and God never asks us to fake joy.
The answer is yes. Just like the Israelites who couldn't bring themselves to sing for their captors, sometimes our hearts aren't ready to shout "thank you." And that's okay with God.
Consider this real story: A man experienced a devastating week where his relationship ended unexpectedly, his son revealed a struggle with alcoholism, a close friend withdrew their support, and his great-nephew was diagnosed with cancer - all within 36 hours. In that moment, he wondered, "What do I have to be thankful for this week?"
First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances." Notice it doesn't say "for all circumstances." We're not called to be thankful for pain, loss, or hardship. But we can find ways to be thankful even while walking through difficult seasons.
The Israelites had forgotten something important about God's presence. When they built the tabernacle, it was to ensure God could dwell among them. But God is not limited to space or time - He cannot be confined to a specific building or relegated to only the "good times" in our past.
Whether your season is cloudy or bright, God adapts His presence to what you need. In darkness, He sends fire to let you know He's there. In overwhelming light, He provides a cloud for protection. He tabernacles with us wherever we go, in whatever season we're experiencing.
Many of us try to rely on past events when God felt closer or more active in our lives. We look at old photos and wish we could return to "better times." But God is not limited to operating only in our past - He can meet us powerfully in our present circumstances.
Sometimes the most authentic worship happens when we're honest about our pain. Just like the Israelites refused to play their instruments for their captors because their hearts weren't there, we don't have to pretend joy we don't feel.
Even if your heart isn't ready to shout "thank you" this week, you can still offer quiet, honest moments of gratitude:
That's still worship. That's still giving thanks. And sometimes that small step opens the door for joy to grow in seasons ahead.
Out of approximately 150 Psalms, most talk about giving thanks, being joyful, and expressing gratitude. But God knew that between Psalm 1 and Psalm 150, there would be times when we wouldn't feel good enough to give thanks.
We're not forced to fake joy in front of our church family. Too often we pretend we're doing okay because we don't want to be vulnerable or appear to be the only ones not experiencing victory.
For more info visit rgmca.org
This week, challenge yourself to practice hospitality that makes you uncomfortable. Look for opportunities to extend kindness, welcome, or help to someone outside your usual circle - someone who can't repay you or benefit you in return.
Maybe it's the person at work who seems difficult, the neighbor you've never talked to, or someone at church who doesn't fit your typical friend group. Practice hospitality without strings attached, expecting nothing in return except the blessing that comes from obedience to Christ's teaching.
Ask yourself these questions: Who in my life represents the "out group" that I've been avoiding? What expectations do I carry that rob me of gratitude when receiving hospitality from others? How can I make room at my table - literally or figuratively - for someone who cannot repay me? Am I willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of showing Christ's love to others?
Remember, we were once the outsiders, the enemies, the ones who couldn't repay God's kindness. Yet He made Himself uncomfortable to welcome us. Now we're called to do the same for others.
For more info visit RGMCA.ORG
How Practicing Hospitality Creates Awareness of God's Presence
Have you ever wondered why you feel God's presence more strongly in church than in your everyday life? The answer might surprise you. It's not that God is more present in church—it's that we expect to encounter Him there. But what if we could live with that same awareness of God's presence throughout our entire week?
Before diving deeper into hospitality and gratitude, we must understand a fundamental truth: our provision is found in the presence of the Good Shepherd. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." Everything we need is met simply by the shepherd being who He is.
This creates a simple equation: Need + Hospitality = Gratitude
The provision of the shepherd—making us lie down in green pastures, leading us beside still waters, preparing a table before us—is best understood as the hospitality of God. When we recognize God's hospitality toward us, gratitude naturally follows.
Think about encountering a famous person in public. You might walk right past them without noticing until someone points them out. The excitement doesn't come from their magical presence—it comes from your awareness of their presence.
The same principle applies to God. He exists in every movement of wind and is reflected in all creation. We experience His presence in church services because we expect it there. But shouldn't our awareness of God's presence extend beyond our weekly gatherings?
The Foundation: God's Provision Meets Our NeedWhy Don't We Always Feel God's Presence?
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). The ultimate expression of God's hospitality isn't just meeting our daily needs - it's laying down His life so we could know Him and be with Him forever.
This sacrificial love is the foundation of all gratitude. When we understand that our deepest need - reconciliation with God - has been met through Christ's sacrifice, every other expression of His hospitality becomes a reason for thanksgiving.
This week, practice acknowledging your needs instead of hiding from them. When you feel thirsty, hungry, tired, lonely, or uncertain, pause and recognize these as opportunities to experience God's hospitality. Thank Him for meeting your needs, both big and small.
Start each day by asking yourself: "What do I need from the Good Shepherd today?" Then watch for how He provides rest, sustenance, care, and direction throughout your day. End each day by reflecting on how your needs were met and responding with gratitude.
Consider these questions as you develop this practice:
Discover more at RGMCA.ORG
In a world that often dismisses the supernatural, many Christians find themselves caught between doubt and faith when it comes to miracles. Are miracles real? Does God still intervene in our daily lives? These questions challenge believers to examine what they truly believe about God's power and presence in the modern world.
For more into visit RGMCA.ORG
When God shows up, it looks remarkably similar to what we find in the pages of the New Testament. Lives are radically changed, the impossible becomes possible, and heaven's resources become accessible through prayer. This isn't about creating distinctions within the body of Christ, but recognizing that all believers have access to the same God who wants to work through us today.
A charismatic Christian is simply someone who believes that God is still doing extraordinary things and that the spiritual gifts mentioned in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, and Ephesians 4 are still in operation today.
For more info visit RGMCA.ORG
Have you ever wondered if God still performs miracles today? In a world that often demands scientific proof for everything, it's easy to become skeptical about supernatural intervention. Yet countless testimonies and documented cases suggest that the God who parted the Red Sea and raised the dead is still actively working in our world today.
RGMCA.ORG
In our modern world, it's easy to fall into a pattern of living as if God is merely a concept rather than a living presence. We may attend church, read our Bibles, and even pray, but do we truly expect God to show up and act in our lives? Many of us have unintentionally adopted what could be called 'functional atheism' – conducting our lives and even our faith as if God doesn't actively participate in our world. Yet Scripture paints a dramatically different picture. Jeremiah boldly proclaims that the Lord is not just a philosophical idea or a historical figure, but "the living God and the everlasting king." This isn't merely poetic language – it's a fundamental truth that should transform how we approach every aspect of our lives. God is not distant or disinterested. He is alive, active, and engaged with His creation. Jesus himself affirmed this when he said, "My father is always at his work to this very day, and so am I." God didn't create the world and then step back to watch it run. He continues to work, to move, to heal, to transform, and to guide. When we begin to truly grasp that God is living and active, it changes everything. Our prayers become expectant conversations rather than ritualistic monologues. Our worship becomes an encounter rather than a performance. Our daily lives become adventures of faith rather than exercises in self-reliance. Today, let's challenge ourselves to move beyond a theoretical faith to a living relationship with the God who is present and active in our world.
At age 18, after suffering from mononucleosis for over five weeks with fever, chills, body pain, and loss of appetite, a desperate two-hour prayer session resulted in immediate healing. The fever broke, hunger returned, and wellness was restored instantaneously.
Discover more at RGMCA.ORG
You cannot become more like Jesus without practicing vulnerability and confession. This is a bold statement, but it's true. When we keep the reality of our hearts hidden, those things will eventually be exposed in painful and unwelcome ways.
Think of Adam and Eve in the garden—their first instinct after sinning was to hide. That's our natural response too. But God calls us to a different way.
When we practice vulnerability and confession as part of our regular Christian life, we allow God to transform us into the image of Jesus without having everything we've built around us destroyed. It's a better way to grow.
The challenge is simple but profound: find a way to practice vulnerability and confession, not only with the Lord but with other believers as well.
Discover more at RGMCA.ORG
There are three key components to a healthy Scripture practice:
Acts 17:10-11 tells us about the Bereans who "received the Word in all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if things were so." They investigated and studied what was then Scripture (the Old Testament) to confirm what the apostles taught.
The church today, especially in the West, does well with studying. We have Bible studies, book clubs, and Sunday schools. We should be studying Scripture every day.
Psalm 119:10-11 says: "With my whole heart I seek you. Let me not wander from your commandments. I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
When we memorize Scripture, it gets locked into the recesses of not just our mind but our being. Some people memorize by book, chapter, and verse references. Others memorize through the narrative of what's happening in the passage. Find whatever method works for you.
Memorizing Scripture is the intentional practice of retaining truth so it's easily accessible in every moment of every day. When we stop thinking of it as text on a page and start seeing it as truth—even truth we don't fully understand—memorization becomes easier.
Psalm 1:1-2 says: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."
The Hebrew word for "meditate" is "hagah," which means to murmur, to utter softly, to ponder. It describes an animal chewing its prey—making an audible eating sound. It's about reveling in the truth and beauty of Scripture until it vibrates within us.
Meditating on Scripture is like savoring a perfect bite of cheesecake. You're not worried about anything else in that moment—you're just overwhelmed by the goodness.
1. Study Scripture Daily2. Memorize Scripture3. Meditate on Scripture
Have you ever thought about how automatic breathing is? Most of us don't consciously think about each breath we take. It just happens. Yet without it, we couldn't survive for more than a few minutes. In our spiritual lives, prayer functions much like breathing. It's not meant to be an occasional emergency measure when we're in trouble, but rather the constant, life-sustaining rhythm of our relationship with God. When God created Adam, He formed him from dust and then breathed life into him. That divine breath transformed lifeless clay into a living being. In a similar way, Jesus breathed on His disciples after His resurrection, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This wasn't just a symbolic gesture—it was the transfer of divine life. Just as we breathe automatically in our physical lives, prayer should become the natural rhythm of our spiritual lives. Not just formal prayers at designated times, but a continuous connection with the Spirit who dwells within us. Today, consider how often you're "breathing" spiritually. Are you waiting until you're spiritually gasping before you pray? Or is prayer becoming the natural rhythm of your life with God?
Discover More at RGMCA.ORG
God Uses What We Have to Provide What We Need
Throughout Scripture, we find countless stories of God doing the impossible with limited resources. From the widow's last portion of flour and oil that lasted for years, to another widow whose small amount of oil multiplied enough to pay off debts, to David defeating Goliath with just a sling and stones—God consistently uses very little to accomplish the extraordinary.
The story of five loaves and two fish in John 6 demonstrates this principle perfectly. When faced with feeding 5,000 people, the disciples calculated that even 200 denarii (equivalent to about $36,000 in today's money) wouldn't be enough to feed everyone. Yet Andrew brought forward a boy with just five loaves and two fish—clearly insufficient by human standards.
This pattern appears throughout Scripture, including in Gideon's story. God reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to just 300 men, then equipped them not with swords and shields, but with clay jars, torches, and trumpets. Through this unlikely strategy, God delivered victory.
What Does the Bible Teach About God's Provision?
Discovery More at RGMCA.ORG
The most important thing to remember is that God loves you, and nothing can change that. This love is the foundation for everything else. From this place of security, consider these questions:
This week, commit to being honest with God about where you are. If you've been holding back, remember that His grace is sufficient. If you've been trying to do too much in your own strength, rest in His power. The goal isn't perfection but participation - joining God in what He's already doing, with a heart fully surrendered to Him.
Discover more at RGMC.ORG
Have you ever noticed how we tend to define ourselves? We say things like "I'm a parent," "I'm a teacher," or "I'm a musician." These labels aren't wrong, but they only scratch the surface of who we truly are. In Judges 6, we find Gideon hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat to keep it from the Midianites. He's afraid, insecure, and certainly not acting like a hero. Yet when God appears to him, He doesn't address Gideon based on what He sees. Instead, God says something remarkable: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." God didn't call Gideon by who he was in that moment, but by who he would become through God's power. This wasn't just a nice compliment—it was a divine declaration of Gideon's true identity. This pattern appears throughout Scripture. God doesn't wait for us to become something before He calls us by that name. He speaks our identity into existence, just as He spoke the universe into being. Today, consider what labels you've accepted as your identity. Are they based on your past mistakes, your job title, your relationship status, or your bank account? God wants to speak a new identity over you—one that isn't earned through performance but received through relationship with Him.
Discover more at RGMCA.ORG
The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit resurrectiongmc.com
The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit resurrectiongmc.com
This week, identify one area in your life where you've been relying on your own strength or resources rather than trusting God. It might be in your family, work, finances, or ministry. Take a deliberate step to surrender that area to God, acknowledging your limitations and inviting His power to work through your weakness. Journal about what changes in your perspective when you approach this situation with a 'Gideon spirit' - recognizing that when you are surrounded by challenges, God has the enemy right where He wants them.
Discover more at RGMCA.ORG
The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit resurrectiongmc.com
The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit resurrectiongmc.com
The Modern Methodist Podcast is the overflow of Resurrection Global Methodist Church in Arlington, TX. If you live in the area, we would love for you to join us for service every Sunday, where we gather to worship, encourage each other, and discover the heart of God through Scripture. For more information, please visit resurrectiongmc.com
The message of Romans challenges us to live differently this week. Consider these questions:
This week, commit to asking at least one person, "Do you know Jesus?" Remember, our differences as believers aren't obstacles to overcome—they're essential elements of the beautiful harmony God is creating through His church. When we embrace our differences while remaining unified in Christ, we display God's love in a way the world desperately needs to see.