Lisa Barry: Giving thanks for everything seems like one of those oxymorons. Yes give thanks, but absolutely not for everything. That's what conventional wisdom will tell us, but since we believe the Bible and the Bible says that we're to be thankful for everything, then we've got to choose whether we're going believe what the Scriptures say or believe our earthly wisdom. Today on Gateway To Joy Elisabeth Elliot offers examples throughout history of people who have lived out this principle in their own lives. Find out more on this Wednesday edition of Gateway To Joy.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says, "And underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot, talking with you today about learning to give thanks, Always and For Everything. That's a pretty tough assignment, isn't it? We're to sing and make music in our hearts for the Lord, always giving thanks to God for everything.

I have a dear friend who told me that, "on the evangelical speaking route everybody is telling us young, Christian wives that a submissive spirit would produce a godly, happy marriage. It might, and it certainly is the best chance and the only option for a true Christian, but frankly, I'm glad all my difficult circumstances didn't change because it was the only way that my motives for obedience could be purified." Her circumstances did not change, in order that her motives for obedience be purified.

"I could have gained first-hand knowledge," she says, "of the immense faithfulness and joy God has for all the many young women God continues to pour into my own life. Some had husbands leave instead of coming to the Lord. Some have had abusive parents and unreconciled relationships. They needed to hear the whole truth though it is hard. The young women who came with me were not only grateful to hear something to help and hang on to, they gratefully and willingly accepted the truth and lived it and are faithfully passing it on.

"I was extremely heartened by the reception to hard truths that these women had--women against whom I held such prejudice and contempt. I would have had no message for them had it not been for unanswered prayers in my pain. It was your message that brought clarity to my confusion in those years. May God be praised. God was far too gracious to teach me such deep lessons through such minimal pain."

This woman has sought for years to be a godly wife and she has gotten no help at all from her husband, but you know, she's one of the most joyful people. She has learned always and for everything to give thanks.

Think of all the things that we should be thankful for: new birth, Christian friends, books, church, radio, pardon for sin, indwelling of the Holy Spirit, all the blessings of the cross. Where would we be without that old rugged cross? Deliverance from a load of guilt, we've received countless mercies, more in number than the sands according to Psalm 139.

I had a letter from a woman saying, "Why should I have quiet time? If I can't have it every day, why try? Maybe I just need to do it anyway and desire will come." Well, I suggested that she should remember that she has two faculties: will and emotion. She may not feel like doing it, but she can will to thank God for the privilege.

Yesterday we talked about Paul and Job and some of the trials and tribulations they went through. Did they go by their feelings? Another letter, a woman said, "I long to find time for quiet time." Well, I felt like asking her, "do you ever listen to CD's or television? Maybe you could reduce the time spent on those things." Another one said, "I have felt cold in my heart toward God." Try thanking Him, I say, always and for everything.

Can you count the spiritual mercies you've already received? You've been saved from hell. You've been enriched with God's gifts: health, work, low income--yes, that's a blessing--, food, clothes, a bed, you're able to breath air and drink clean water, the blood is still pulsing through your heart, you were able to write me that letter. Aren't these all mercies for which you should thank God? Be assured that God has put you in the best position to learn His mercies. Start thanking instead of murmuring and groaning as though God has been tough on you.

I know dear thankful souls--people who have been in pain practically all their lives, never a good night's sleep, can't move a muscle--and yet they are happy in the Lord, contented, thankful. The opposite types--the wealth, health, strength, comforts, miserable disposition crowd, the disagreeable ones--are they the ones that we hear thanking God always and for everything? We receive ten times as many mercies, which we never notice.

Again I want to quote from Spurgeon. He speaks of a remarkable providence. "A puritan" you have heard perhaps of a puritan "who met his son each one of them traveling some 10 or 12 miles to meet the other. The son said to his father, 'Father, I am thankful to God for a very remarkable providence, which I have had on my journey. My horse has stumbled three times with me and yet I am unhurt.' The puritan replied, 'My dear son, I have to thank God for an equally remarkable providence on my way to you. For my horse did not once stumble all the way.'"

Very interesting, isn't it?

"The remarkable providence that the son had was that his horse stumbled but he wasn't hurt. The father said he thanked God for an equally remarkable providence. If we happen to be in an accident by real way, we feel so grateful that our limbs are not broken, but should we not be thankful when there is no accident," says Spurgeon. "Is not that the better thing of the two? If you were to fall into poverty and someone were to restore you to your former position and trade, you would be very grateful. Should you not be grateful that you have not fallen into poverty? Bless God for His unknown benefits. Extol Him for favors, which you do not see. Always giving thanks to God for all things.

"We should say to the Lord, 'Let Him do what seemeth Him good.' If He will give us health we will thank Him. If he will send us sickness we will thank Him. If he indulges us with prosperity or if He tries us with affliction, if the Holy Spirit will but enable us we will never cease to praise the Lord as long as we live.

"Saint Augustine tells us that the early saints, when they met each other, would never separate without saying, 'Dio gratius.' Thanks be to God. Frequently their conversation would be about the persecutions, which raged against them, but they finished their conversation with 'Dio gratius.' Sometimes they had to tell of dear brethren devoured by beasts in the amphitheater, but even then, they said 'Dio gratius.' Thanks be to God. Frequently they mourned the uprise of heresy, but this did not make them rob the Lord of His 'Dio gratius.' So should it be with us all the daylong. The motto of the Christian should be 'Dio gratius.' Give thanks always for all things."

Yesterday I read you part of an article by Ted Simonsen entitled "A Goal For my Old Age." He gave four things, which he had decided on. The grace of the Lord was sufficient for him, because His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He noticed also that people tend to become tomorrow what they practice today. "If I deny myself and take up my cross now, I'll be ready for tomorrow. Self denial won't be a new idea." Then he noticed, number three, that God takes a serious view of resolutions made to honor him. Number four, the Bible and Church history are filled with accounts of men and women who did not let age interfere with their service to God.

Well, you're listening to the voice of a woman who is not just getting old; she's already got there. I think Ted Simonsen's ideas will put some iron into your soul. "Think of the Christians way back in the days when they were being persecuted. Polycarp replied, 'Eighty and six years have I served Christ and He never did me wrong. How can I now blaspheme the King who has saved me?'"

The King, of course, was trying to persuade Polycarp to swear, and he promised that he would release him if he would revile Christ. Polycarp refused. "Christ challenges me," says Simonsen. "The men and women of the Bible challenge me. The saints of the Church challenge me. If I take the easy road of self-indulgence, what wonders of grace will Daniel and I be able to talk about in glory? What will I say to Moses and Samuel and Elijah? I'm not going to heaven to collect autographs, but to rejoice that I have found God sufficient in my appointed circumstances. Just as they found Him sufficient in theirs.

"If a Roman prison could not confine the spirit of Paul at the close of his earthly life, why should a wheelchair or a hospital bed confine mine? Keep me, Lord, from focusing on my aches and pains, my dimness of vision and my poor hearing. Save me from a fidgeting preoccupation with what I eat and drink and what I put on." Let's all of us learn to give thanks always and for everything.

Lisa Barry: One thing that this program always does is get me excited about obeying. Growth that seems too allusive suddenly seems within reach. I hope you're expecting the same thing. Something else that I know many of you are excited about is Elisabeth's new line of greeting cards, and as far as I'm concerned, they're long overdue. If you've ever wished that you could bottle a little bit of Gateway To Joy and mail it to a friend who's hurting, then this is the next best thing. The greeting cards all feature the writing of Elisabeth, and are suitable for many different occasions. The cards are available individually or in a set of eight.

For more information, you can call us here at 1-800-759-4JOY. That's 1-800-759-4569. Or, you can write to us at Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, NE 68501. That's Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, NE 68501. We also have this tape series available for you to purchase. Our Web site address is gatewaytojoy.org.

Gateway To Joy has been a production of Back to the Bible and is supported by the generous gifts of people like you. There are more reasons to give thanks tomorrow, so tune in to find out what they are next time on Gateway To Joy.