Finding Gratitude in Life's Brokenness and Challenges

 

Summary

Gratitude is a profound spiritual practice that transcends the superficial and touches the core of our being, especially in times of brokenness and deep sadness. Today, we explore how to cultivate gratitude even when life is challenging. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, encourages us to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances." This doesn't mean we are thankful for every hardship, but rather, we find gratitude amidst them. Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, poignantly noted that those who have emerged from profound suffering are often the most capable of gratitude. This is because they have seen the depths of human suffering and yet have found reasons to hope and be thankful.

In the Kingdom of the Night, where suffering and confusion reign, we find Jesus on the cross, embodying the ultimate paradox of joy and sorrow. Our gratitude is not naive or sentimental; it acknowledges the harsh realities of life while holding onto hope. Eleanor Stump and Jean Vanier remind us that recognizing our brokenness can lead to a deeper understanding of our beauty and sacredness. This realization allows us to see the value in others, even those who have hurt us, as beloved by God.

John Hull's experience of blindness as a paradoxical gift illustrates how suffering can lead to spiritual enlightenment. In his darkness, he found a profound sense of worship and acceptance, realizing that even in pain, God's presence is near. This journey of gratitude challenges us to remember our worst moments and see how they have shaped us, often leading to unexpected growth and strength.

Gratitude, then, is not about ignoring the bad but embracing it as part of our spiritual journey. It is in the broken places that we often find God, and it is at the cross, in the Kingdom of the Night, where we discover that darkness cannot extinguish the light. We thank God today, not because everything is perfect, but because even in brokenness, God is working for good.

Key Takeaways:

- Gratitude in adversity is about finding thankfulness amidst challenges, not for them. This perspective allows us to see God's will in our lives, even when circumstances are difficult. [01:35]

- Emerging from suffering can deepen our capacity for gratitude, as seen in Elie Wiesel's reflections. This journey through the Kingdom of the Night teaches us to hold onto hope and recognize God's presence in our darkest moments. [02:09]

- Recognizing our brokenness can lead to a deeper understanding of our beauty and sacredness, as Jean Vanier suggests. This awareness helps us see the value in others, even those who have hurt us, as beloved by God. [04:29]

- John Hull's experience of blindness as a paradoxical gift illustrates how suffering can lead to spiritual enlightenment. In his darkness, he found a profound sense of worship and acceptance, realizing that even in pain, God's presence is near. [05:44]

- Remembering our worst moments and how we overcame them can lead to unexpected growth and strength. This practice of gratitude helps us appreciate the truly important people and things in our lives, infusing our brokenness with meaning. [09:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:31] - Gratitude and Technology
- [01:02] - Gratitude in Brokenness
- [01:18] - Paul's Encouragement
- [01:50] - Elie Wiesel's Insight
- [02:09] - The Kingdom of the Night
- [02:54] - Hope and Gratitude
- [03:30] - Cultivating Gratitude
- [03:44] - Jean Vanier's Wisdom
- [05:00] - The Beloved of God
- [05:18] - John Hull's Experience
- [06:44] - Accepting the Gift
- [07:13] - God's Presence in Pain
- [08:12] - Remembering the Bad
- [09:13] - Growth Through Adversity
- [10:24] - Light in the Darkness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Cultivating Gratitude in Adversity

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
2. Psalm 22:1 - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?"
3. John 1:5 - "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he instructs us to "give thanks in all circumstances" in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18? How does this differ from giving thanks for all circumstances? [01:35]
2. How does the sermon describe the "Kingdom of the Night," and what significance does it hold in understanding gratitude amidst suffering? [02:09]
3. In the sermon, how is Jesus' experience on the cross used to illustrate the paradox of joy and sorrow? [03:13]
4. What insights does John Hull's experience of blindness provide about finding gratitude in adversity? [05:44]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might Paul's encouragement to "rejoice always" and "pray without ceasing" be practically applied in times of personal hardship? [01:18]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between recognizing our brokenness and understanding our sacredness and beauty? [04:29]
3. How does the concept of the "Kingdom of the Night" challenge or affirm your understanding of God's presence in times of suffering? [02:09]
4. In what ways does the sermon propose that suffering can lead to spiritual enlightenment and growth? [05:44]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenging situation in your life. How can you find gratitude in the midst of it, even if you are not thankful for the situation itself? [01:35]
2. Consider a time when you felt abandoned or alone, similar to Jesus' cry on the cross. How did you experience God's presence during that time, or how might you seek it now? [02:09]
3. How can recognizing your own brokenness help you see the value and sacredness in others, even those who have hurt you? [04:29]
4. Think of a difficult experience that ultimately led to personal growth. What specific aspects of that experience are you now grateful for, and how can you apply this perspective to current challenges? [09:13]
5. Identify a "dark" moment in your life where you found unexpected light or hope. How can this memory encourage you in present or future struggles? [10:24]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of gratitude into your daily routine, especially during times of adversity? What specific steps will you take this week? [03:30]
7. Reflect on the people in your life who have supported you through tough times. How can you express your gratitude to them this week in a meaningful way? [09:48]

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude Amidst Challenges
Gratitude in adversity is about finding thankfulness amidst challenges, not for them. This perspective allows us to see God's will in our lives, even when circumstances are difficult. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, encourages believers to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances." This does not imply that one should be thankful for every hardship, but rather find gratitude amidst them. This approach helps us to see beyond the immediate pain and recognize the broader tapestry of God's work in our lives. By focusing on gratitude, we can shift our perspective from what is lacking to what is present, allowing us to see God's hand even in the most challenging times. [01:35]

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you find a moment of gratitude within this situation today?


Day 2: Deepened Gratitude Through Suffering
Emerging from suffering can deepen our capacity for gratitude, as seen in Elie Wiesel's reflections. This journey through the Kingdom of the Night teaches us to hold onto hope and recognize God's presence in our darkest moments. Those who have experienced profound suffering often emerge with a heightened ability to appreciate the small blessings in life. This is because they have seen the depths of human suffering and yet have found reasons to hope and be thankful. In the midst of darkness, they have discovered that light still exists, and this realization fuels a deeper sense of gratitude. [02:09]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: Recall a time when you faced significant hardship. How did that experience shape your understanding of gratitude and hope?


Day 3: Recognizing Beauty in Brokenness
Recognizing our brokenness can lead to a deeper understanding of our beauty and sacredness, as Jean Vanier suggests. This awareness helps us see the value in others, even those who have hurt us, as beloved by God. By acknowledging our own imperfections, we can develop empathy and compassion for others, understanding that everyone is on their own journey of healing and growth. This perspective allows us to see the divine image in each person, fostering a sense of unity and love that transcends personal grievances. [04:29]

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)

Reflection: Consider someone who has hurt you. How can you begin to see them as beloved by God and worthy of compassion?


Day 4: Enlightenment Through Suffering
John Hull's experience of blindness as a paradoxical gift illustrates how suffering can lead to spiritual enlightenment. In his darkness, he found a profound sense of worship and acceptance, realizing that even in pain, God's presence is near. This journey of gratitude challenges us to remember our worst moments and see how they have shaped us, often leading to unexpected growth and strength. By embracing our suffering, we can find a deeper connection to the divine and a more profound sense of peace and acceptance. [05:44]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a personal trial that led to spiritual growth. How did this experience bring you closer to God?


Day 5: Growth Through Adversity
Remembering our worst moments and how we overcame them can lead to unexpected growth and strength. This practice of gratitude helps us appreciate the truly important people and things in our lives, infusing our brokenness with meaning. By looking back on our struggles, we can see how they have shaped us into who we are today, often revealing strengths and virtues we never knew we possessed. This reflection allows us to cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for the journey and the lessons learned along the way. [09:13]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a past adversity that led to personal growth. How can you use this experience to inspire gratitude and hope in your current circumstances?

Quotes


Paul was writing the church that uh thessalonic in chapter five first Thessalonians and he said uh, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and then give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you, and the idea is not give thanks for all circumstances but give thanks in all circumstances because circumstances may not be God's will for you but that you be a grateful person, that's what God wants for you and me. [00:01:10]

Elie Wiesel the great writer, survivor of the Holocaust humanitarian wrote no one is as capable of gratitude as the one who has emerged from the kingdom of the night, and the kingdom of the night of course is that place of human suffering and Brokenness and confusion of Darkness, the place where it seems God is Not, the place where Jesus himself cried out my God my God why have you forsaken me, and everybody will spend some time in the Kingdom of the night. [00:01:44]

And so our gratitude is not frothy or sentimental it doesn't assume that circumstances will work out the way that we want them to we find God hanging on a cross even in the Kingdom of the night, so a few thoughts as we get ready for cultivating gratitude in thinking about the difficult and the hard and the bad because gratitude if it means anything at all has to be deeply compatible with them. [00:03:13]

He said we can only accept the pain in our lives if we discover our true self beneath all the masks and realize that if we are broken we are also more beautiful than we ever dared to expect, when we realize our Brokenness we do not have to fall into depression, seeing our own Brokenness and beauty allows us to recognize hidden under the Brokenness and self-centeredness of others, their beauty their value their sacredness. [00:04:08]

John Hall, who in the grip of a disease descended into blindness, and uh he writes for some time his aversion to it and the suffering that it caused him, but then he writes about a spiritual experience he had while listening to music in a church an encounter with God, the thought kept coming back to me he writes, could there be a strange way in which blindness is a dark paradoxical gift, does it offer a way of life a purification. [00:05:07]

I was filled with a profound sense of worship I felt that I was in the very presence of God, that The Giver of the gift had drawn near me to inspect his handiwork if I hardly dared approached him he hardly dared to approach me he had as it were thrown his cloak of Darkness around me from a distance but had now drawn near to seek a kind of reassurance for me that everything was all right. [00:06:00]

And I have found one of the deepest experiences of gratitude going through this journey of the Gratitude challenge to come, not when I think about how good my life is but when I think precisely about God's presence right in the midst of pain that I cannot make go away, and I think that has something to do with the heart of God for a world where the pain and the beauty and the gift and the Brokenness are somehow so intermingled. [00:06:50]

One strategy for cultivating gratitude is remember the bad, in our society very often we work really really hard to forget the bad but then we are diminished in our Humanity, think of your worst moments, your sorrows, your losses, your sadness, and then remember, focus on how you got through the worst day of your life, the trauma, the trial, you endured the temptation, you survived the bad relationship. [00:08:06]

Sometimes even when bad things happen they can ultimately have positive consequences things that we cannot be grateful for so choose an experience from your life that was initially unpleasant unwanted try now to focus on the positive aspects or Consequences of this difficult experience, as the result of this event what kinds of things do you now feel thankful or grateful for, has it benefited you as a person how have you grown. [00:08:51]

None of this diminishes the pain or makes the world or me any less broken but it infuses them with meaning, because somehow it's in the broken places that I find God, it is at the cross, in the Kingdom of the night, where we meet him, and we discover the darkness cannot extinguish the light the lightest come in the world and the Darkness cannot put it out, so we thank him today in all circumstances. [00:10:05]

Even that in the Brokenness in the bad circumstances God is working for good, it is true, it is still true in the Kingdom of the night, like that little crow is calling out, we have so much to be grateful for. [00:10:45]

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Transcript
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