Thankful For His Best

Read

Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’”

Think

As Jesus gathered with his disciples in the upper room, he took the bread, broke it, and gave thanks. This marked the beginning of “Passion” week—a week that would bring betrayal, suffering, and ultimately, the cross. Yet, knowing every detail of the anguish awaiting him, Jesus paused to thank God. In Luke 22, the word for “thanks” is eucharisteo, a Greek word holding layers of meaning: gratitude, grace, and joy. Jesus’s gratitude wasn’t grounded in the immediate suffering but in the greater joy and grace that lay beyond it—the redemption of countless lives, including ours.

Facing this path of profound suffering, Jesus trusted fully in God’s plan. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” For Jesus, this “best” meant embracing the cross. His gratitude was an act of surrender, an unwavering confidence in God’s purpose, even knowing that his journey would be painful and costly. His thankfulness reveals a deeper truth: gratitude doesn’t always come from comfort but from trust in the greater good God is bringing about.

This moment calls us to see thanksgiving in a new way. Like Jesus, we’re invited to give thanks, not just when life feels easy, but precisely in those challenging moments when faith is our anchor. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to “fix our eyes on Jesus… who for the joy set before him endured the cross.” This eucharisteo—a blend of grace and joy—empowered Jesus to endure his suffering, and it can be our anchor, too.

Where might God be inviting you to thank him, even in hardship? When we, like Jesus, choose to give thanks in all things, we open ourselves to his grace and find a joy that transcends our circumstances. In every difficulty, God is present, shaping us, working all things together for a future glory we may not yet fully see.

Apply

Keep a list of things you’re grateful for, especially when facing challenges. This can be a daily reminder of God’s past faithfulness, helping you see his grace in all circumstances.

Pray

God, help me to trust you, even when I don’t understand what’s happening. Give me a heart that’s grateful in all things. Remind me that your grace is enough. I choose to trust you and thank you, knowing you are always working for my good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.