As we are nearing the end of the year, it is natural to reflect. For some, 2023 has been a year of joy. For others, 2023 brought great pain and heartache. The heartache and pain we face often make even the ground we walk on feel unsteady. It is certainly difficult to find gratitude when you are walking through tragedy, heartbreak, and even disappointment, but if you found yourself in the second category and 2023 was a year of much pain, take heart. While this world brings unspeakable difficulties, we know this earth is not our home. We can look toward God and His kingdom, which is unshakable, and because of that, we can choose thanksgiving even in the most difficult times.
As long as we live on Earth, there will be reminders that the world is broken. So much in this life feels unsteady and fragile. While the heartache of this world is our reality now, we are not without hope. The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us that one day everything that is unshakable will fade away (Hebrews 12:27). When this happens, only the things that are unshakable will remain (verse 27). These unshakable things, of course, are the things of God and His kingdom. Because of this good news, the writer of Hebrews concludes, “since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe” (verse 28). Let the words of this verse sink in. “We are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable.” The ground beneath you may be shifting daily, but the Kingdom that you are receiving is unshakable. One day, God will make everything right, and there will be no more pain and heartache. In light of this good news, the writer of Hebrews calls us to be thankful and to worship God. This good news leads to gratitude as we set our eyes and hope on the things that are unshakable.
My friend, even when everything around you feels like it is shaking and crumbling, we can have gratitude because we know that we can look to the things that are eternal. We can look to God and His unshakable kingdom that is eternal and will last forever. That, my friend, is something we can truly be grateful for, even on the darkest night.
Write out Hebrews 12:28 on a sheet of paper or a notecard. As you write out this verse, meditate on the verse as you write each word down. Put the notecard somewhere you will see it often. Let this verse remind you to give thanks even in the hardest times.
"Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
18 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."
22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire."
