Faith Column: Gratitude is our way of acknowledging and appreciating God’s love – The Globe

WORTHINGTON — Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! God’s steadfast love endures forever.

The land was parched; the weather service spoke of drought. Streams dried up and rivers and lakes became increasingly dry – perhaps not a desert, but dry. Then God sent the rain. Parched lands turned into puddles of water and streams and rivers overflowed their banks.

I know this sounds a lot like the situation we are currently experiencing in southwest Minnesota, but it is actually a paraphrase of part of Psalm 107.

I often wonder if the authors of Scripture were not actually from this corner of the world. So often what is described in Scripture, especially in the Psalms, resembles our present lives and situations. In such situations, the Psalmist often reminds us to turn to the Lord for help and strength.

Psalm 107 repeatedly speaks of the challenges that people have faced. We may face similar situations in our lives. Some were hungry, others were in prison, and still others were sick, but when they called on the Lord, God saved them. The psalmist then calls them and us to thank the Lord.

Gratitude is not just a response to God’s salvation, but a way to acknowledge and appreciate His steadfast love and wonderful works in our lives.

God’s help is never the same for everyone. It is always tailored to the individual situation. Likewise, God offers each of us an individual form of help for the challenges in our lives. For some it may be a comforting hug in times of grief; for others a gentle whisper of peace or a boost of strength in grief. For some it may be a miraculous healing; for others the comforting presence of friends or a word of encouragement.

For one person, it might be a divine revelation of wisdom; another might receive the gift of patience; and yet another might receive the spirit of action. The gifts and salvation God gives us are unique and tailored to each challenge and opportunity we face.

However, we must also realize that what God gives us does not always match our prayers. His ways are often beyond our understanding. Simply giving us what we ask for does not always solve the situation. God, who has endowed us with His complex creations, knows what we desire and what we truly need.

The difficult thing is recognizing God’s work in our lives. We may not see what we expect to find. That’s because too often we act by sight rather than faith. We rely on our five senses to understand our world. If we can’t see it, touch it, smell it, or taste it, then it can’t be real.

Scripture teaches us to live by faith, not by sight. This kind of faith is not about denying the material world but about looking beyond it to catch a glimpse of something greater. It is about trusting what you cannot see, touch, smell, or taste. It is about imagining what could be, even when it seems impossible. It is about opening our hearts and minds to the transcendent and developing a sense of God’s nature and power.

May God hear us all as we journey through these summer days. May God calm the storms and quiet the winds. May we all find rest and be filled with joy in His care. Then let us all thank the Lord for His steadfast love and His wonderful works for us.

Galen Smith is pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Worthington.