“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Ps. 136:1).

It’s that time of year when we gather with friends and family and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast. It’s the time of year where we share with one another what we are grateful for— when we reflect on all the good things we’ve enjoyed the past year. We find ourselves listing the people we cherish, the gracious provisions we’ve received, and the prayers God has answered. We remember experiences we’ve enjoyed. We remember how God has provided for our needs. We remember the people he brought into our lives to encourage us. We remember hard journeys we’ve taken and how we’ve come out on the other side. These are all good things, things for which we ought to rejoice and give thanks to the Lord.

Yet believers are called to give thanks, not just once a year, but all the year through. In fact, it is God’s will that we give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). And while we do give thanks for all that we have received, for answered prayers, for all we enjoy in life, we also give thanks even when we are empty handed. Psalm 136 reminds us to give thanks to the Lord, not just for what he provides, but also for who he is.

This psalm tells us to give thanks because:

He is good and his love endures forever (v.1)
He is God above all gods, Lord above all lords (vv. 2-3)
He created all things (vv.4-9)
He acts in history to bring about his purposes and redemption (vv.10-22)
He saves and provides for his people (vv.23-26)

On this side of the cross, we can add to this list God’s greatest act of redemption, the sending of his Son to die on the cross for our sins. We can add his Spirit at work in our lives to make us new. We can add the promise and hope of eternity forever with him.

Some years when Thanksgiving rolls around, we might have many things on our list for which to give thanks. Other years, we may find ourselves in the midst of deep sorrow and suffering and find it harder to create that list. Whatever our year has been like— whether our hands are full or empty— we raise them up in praise to give thanks to the Lord for who he is.

He is good and his love endures forever.

Father in heaven,

You are good and your love endures forever. I come before you with a heart filled with sorrow from life lived in a fallen world. I come before you with worries and fears. I come before you uncertain about the future. Some days it’s hard to see the good among all the bad.

Even so, you are good and your love endures forever. I give you thanks and praise you for who you are. You are always good and only do what is good. I see this in your sovereign care over all you have made. I see this in your perfect Word and in your work in my life. I see this in your faithfulness to your covenant promises. Thank you for your steadfast love for me. You chose me, saved me, changed me, and secured me. I am yours forever and nothing and no one can take me from you.

Thank you for Jesus, for who he is and what he has done in his life, death, resurrection, and current reign over all things. When I stop and dwell on this, I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving. When I consider his humility and suffering on my behalf, I am astounded anew at the wonders of his grace. When I focus my heart on him, on how he is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Heb. 1:3), I hunger to know more of him. I pray you would give me “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him” (Eph. 1:17).

For you are good and your steadfast love endures forever.

Forgive me when I forget who you are. Forgive me for focusing on the things of earth and not on your rule above it. Forgive me for doubting your love and care for me. Forgive me for living in my own strength, rather than resting in yours.

I pray Psalm 136’s song would the constant refrain of my heart. Help me to sing each day: you are good and your love endures forever.

In Jesus’ name, amen.