Thanksgiving during COVID-19

So, here we are with winter coming on, COVID infection rates rising, and hospital rooms filling. In most places in the USA this year we’re not even supposed to gather with our families for our traditional Thanksgiving celebration on November 26. Our politicians on both sides of the proverbial aisle are blustering contradictory messages about the situation because that’s what politicians do. These are not exactly the kind of circumstances that stir us to give thanks. But where does it say that thanksgiving is only based on favorable circumstances?

In difficult times like these, we’re reminded that giving thanks for what’s in the past and having hope for what’s ahead is tied to our relationship with God through in Jesus Christ. There’s no guarantee of tomorrow, just a guarantee that what ever tomorrow brings, God’s got his people right in the palm of his hand. Thanksgiving and hope don’t come from our ideal circumstances but from our identity in Christ. Even in the best of times our ultimate joy should come from our relationship with God, not our latest success (Luke 10:20). Here’s a classic statement of that conviction from the Heidelberg Catechism:

The Bible teaches us to give thanks always for all things (e.g. Eph 5:20; Phil 4:6-7; Col 3:17), and it gives us many examples of the saints of God doing exactly that (e.g. Job 1:21; Dan 6:10; Acts 16:25). In previous posts we’ve developed this teaching more fully; in this one we want to think about thanksgiving during a pandemic.

Some Reasons to give thanks during COVID-19:

COVID deepens our faith. One of the most perverse things about fallen human nature is that we neglect to praise God and depend on God during the good times. Evidently we assume good times are the way it should be, so there’s no special need to acknowledge God’s blessing. But when tough times arise, we are reminded of what has been true all along, that every new day brings new opportunities to walk with God, depend on him, and serve others. COVID is a wake-up call that reminds us to depend on God every day, through thick and thin. We need to learn, as Paul did, to be content in every circumstance (Phil 4:10-13).

COVID teaches us that life is fragile. Young people tend to think they’re bullet proof, and lately older folks have come to believe that there are pills or therapies that will cure whatever ails them. With all our modern medical advances people in many places are living longer lives. Have you heard the saying “70 is the new 50”? Yet a longer life is not necessarily a better life if it is lived selfishly.  We like to think we’re invincible, but COVID shows us we’re mere mortals who’d better be grateful for each new day.

COVID brings out the best in people, or at least it ought to. Do we appreciate the extra danger our first responders, health care professionals, and other essential workers are facing during these times? Do we care about people, such as restaurant owners and food service workers, whose livelihood has been decimated by COVID restrictions? What can we do as the church to reach out and help such people?

COVID is an opportunity to love our neighbors. I’m skeptical whenever I hear people pontificating about “the science” of COVID, as if all scientists have somehow come to an agreement on how to handle an unprecedented developing pandemic, one made more complicated because it impacts different people in different parts of the world in very different ways. I weary of simplistic, one-size-fits-all solutions. I’m no scientist, and I’m not sure how to evaluate the conflicting claims the scientists make. But the Golden Rule (Matt 7:12) and the Great Commandment (Deut 6:4-5; Lev 19:18; Matt 22:34-40) and still stand, whether you’re a face-mask hawk or a face-mask dove. We all ought to be more concerned than ever to care for our fellow humans, especially those whose pre-existing conditions render them especially vulnerable to the virus.

COVID spurs us to be good stewards of technology. As an OG I’m not one who takes to virtual reality naturally. Sure, it’s fun to surf the web for interesting stuff. Lately I’ve found some great videos of people repairing old guitars and hunting for rocks on Great Lakes beaches. But technology has great potential for ministry as well as recreation. As an educator, I’m not sold on online education as preferable to traditional methods of instruction. Be all that as it may, technology is a great blessing in times like these, and we had better take advantage of it. At the very least, this means using Facetime and Zoom and other such platforms to keep in touch with friends and family as well as carry out church ministries.

COVID reminds us of the greatest pandemic of all, the spiritual pandemic that plagues all humanity. The grand epic that we call the Bible is about God’s plan to redeem humans who have rebelled against him from the beginning. One part of this plan is God’s using disasters not just to punish the rebels but to draw them back to himself (Luke 13:1-5). COVID has taken a great toll in human relationships, leaving many with feelings of loneliness, even alienation from their friends and family. Perhaps such feelings will lead people back to God, and reconciliation with God will lead to restoration of human relationships as well. The church needs to reach out to people whose lives have been shattered by COVID restrictions.

COVID leads us to worship. No one has a totally satisfying answer to the question of why bad things (such as COVID) happen to good people. I’m convinced that the more profound question is why good things happen to bad people. The first question leads us to ponder the wisdom and justice of God, and the second God’s grace and mercy. I can’t fully explain why the God “who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:11) permits disasters like the COVID pandemic. But it’s even harder to explain why God graciously brings rebellious sinners into his ultimate plan to restore the world through Jesus Christ (Eph 1:9-10). Grace is amazing!

Some closing thoughts from Habakkuk:

As we read Habakkuk we see the prophet’s attitude toward looming disaster (the Babylonian invasion of Judah) change. At first he complains and awaits God’s answer (2:1). After hearing from God, Habakkuk responds in a way that embodies the key teaching of his ministry: “the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God” (Hab 2:4 NLT; cf. Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38). Habakkuk’s response to military disaster instructs us in our response to the COVID disaster:

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights. (Hab 3:17-19 NLT)

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Go here for additional posts on Thanksgiving.

If the difficulty of life during COVID is dragging you down, watch some uplifting preaching on hatred, suffering, anxiety, and hope by Pastors Joel Wayne and Jim Jeffery at Chapel Pointe, Hudsonville MI.

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In Romans 8 Paul forcefully tells us that no circumstance or situation can separate followers of Jesus from the faithful love of God. The song “Yes I Will” shows us how to respond to the truth of Romans 8

Here’s a canonical response to God’s faithful love (Psalm 136, NIV):

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.

4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.

10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
11 He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.a
His faithful love endures forever.
14 He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
16 Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever.

17 Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
18 He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
21 God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
22 a special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
24 He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever.