30_Years_War  I recently discovered a new hero who wrote a wonderful Thanksgiving hymn called “Now Thank We All Our God.” His name is Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), and he lived in Eilenburg, Germany. He obeyed a command from God that sometimes seems impossible to me. The Bible says: “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

   Now, his giving thanks “in everything” doesn’t sound all that impossible until you discover what his life was like. Martin Rinkart was a pastor who faithfully served his people throughout the disturbing days of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). That war was cruel beyond belief. The Swedish army invaded Germany and occupied some of its cities in order to cut them off from the outside world. This invasion caused mass starvation. It was so bad that many of the cities in Germany lost up to 50% of their population. In spite of that, Pastor Rinkart refused to flee for safety. Instead, he stayed in Eilenburg so he could serve and encourage his congregation.

   One by one the other pastors in Eilenburg either fled or died, leaving Pastor Rinkart as the only surviving pastor. During the siege he conducted as many as 50 funerals a day, which sadly also included his wife, who had become very sick because her body was so weak from starvation.

   Rinkart lived in a world exposed to death and despair. In spite of that, his faith in Christ held firm. He did not give in to anger or bitterness. Even after living through thirty dreadful years of pain and suffering all around him, he never lost his belief in the goodness and faithfulness of God.

   Pastor Rinkart’s faith was so strong that he wrote the following poem (later put to music) for his children in order to express his thankfulness.

  Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices
  Who wondrous things has done, in Whom His world rejoices;
   Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
   With countless gifts of love, and still are ours today.
  O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
  With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
  And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed
  And free us from all ills in this world and the next.
  All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
  The Son and Him Who reigns with them in highest heaven
  The one eternal God Whom earth and heaven adore;
  For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

   When people are followers of Jesus Christ, their suffering actually has positive side effects. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4). Paul expressed thankfulness, even while he was chained to a Roman soldier in a dungeon: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all” (Philippians 1:3–4).

   Being thankful during really hard times, like Martin Rinkart was, is possible for you too. If you can say that “… Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20), then you too can know deep, abiding joy because Jesus has rescued you from the awful penalty of your sin.

   That kind of thankfulness is a miracle that only God can give. As you count your blessings this Thanksgiving, I hope that Jesus Christ is at the top of your list.