Thankful In The Mess

 Thanks and Giving

“A series on cultivating gratitude and thankfulness in every season of life.”

Thank You:

Good morning Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Before I begin today’s message, I want to say “thank you”. I want to thank you for your heart. I want to thank you for your tireless service. I want to thank you for all of your smiles, the handshakes, the “how can I help” yous. This past week Eastern Shore Baptist Church became the center of Baptist life for the great state of Alabama. Baptists from as far north as Sheffield, AL and as far south as Orange Beach, AL journeyed to THIS church to chart a course for all of Alabama Baptists. Hosting the Convention is not easy. For those of you who were here working, you know this to be true. There is a great deal of preparation before hand. During the Convention, you are promised little thanks and long hours. You are promised early mornings and late evenings. However, the Convention is worth it. The Convention mobilizes our volunteers. To grow strong muscles, you have to exercise. In order to build strong volunteers, you have to flex them, just like a muscle. You have to put them to work and friends, there is great joy in working together. Secondly, the Convention is worth it because it gives us the mandate to kick the tires around the church. When you hosts guests at your home, you clean the house. You make the beds and vacuum. The same holds true for the church. No, we don’t have beds but we have walls that need painting, carpets that need cleaning, and upgrades that need to be purchased. Hosting the Convention pushes us to make those changes and meet those challenges. Lastly, the Convention is worth it because of the relationships. When I was walking around our campus, I saw our people serving. Serving creates cohesion. It inspires conversation. It encourages connection. There were some of our volunteers who had never met. Now they are friends. We had volunteers who saw each other in the halls of our beloved church, who would give the obligatory nod and “hello”. Maybe last week they were acquaintances but now they are true friends. The Convention brings all of us together, it forms tight bonds, and it gives our staff a chance to serve together. That is not the only relationships that I am talking about this morning. Friends, sometimes pastoral ministry can be a very lonely place. Pastors feel sometimes that they are on an island. They can feel discouraged and in the dark. Now, I am glad to say that is not your pastor. I have never felt more energized and alive in pastoral ministry than I do this day. The Convention brings pastors together. It brings pastor’s wives together. It is wonderfully encouraging for the pastor’s to reconnect, talk, share, and pray for one another’s burdens. What we did this week was minister to potentially hundreds of pastors. So, thank you Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Thank you for you heart for Alabama Baptists. Thank you for your heart for one another. Thank you for the encouragement that you offered to hundreds of pastors.  

Introduction:

This morning, we are back in our series entitled “Thanks and Giving”. I know one thing that I am thankful for, I am thankful to be out of this election season that we have all be drowning in over the last several months. Can I get an “Amen”? 

Amen indeed!

I will tell you a story that I heard though through this election season. The story is about Ronald Reagan. It’s a true story confirmed by President Reagan’s Vice President George Bush. The story goes like this…

Ronald Reagan had just been shot. John Hinkley’s bullet nearly pierced the President’s heart by millimeters. An assassin’s murderous intent nearly deprived the United States of America one of the greatest Presidents in modern history. President Reagan was my childhood President and to this day is still my favorite President. I have read biographies about him and recently watched a great movie starring Dennis Quaid about him. He just had such a great quick wit. 

Anyway…

Reagan had just been shot. They had taken him to the hospital. The doctors rushed him into surgery and repaired the wound and saved President Regan’s life. The next day, President Reagan was in his hospital room. He was recovering. The only people that could come see him was his beloved wife Nancy, the Vice President, his Secret Service agent, and of course his nurse. It was late in the day and George H. Bush came to visit the President. When he opened the hospital door, he found President Reagan on his hands and knees. He was by his bed. He had a towel in his hand and he was wiping up water off the floor. The man had endured assassination and a serious surgery, and he was on the floor cleaning up spilled water on the floor. 

Vice President Bush quickly reacted. “Mr. President, what are you doing? You should be in bed. Please get off the floor sir, someone will come and clean up this spill. They have people for that sort of thing. You don’t have to do that.”

And then Vice President Bush said this…

“You don’t have to clean up that mess, sir, you are the President of the United States of America!”

While still toweling up the water, President Reagan responded saying, “This is my mess and I intend to clean it up. God sent me this mess to show me that Im not to high to do something low. If I don’t clean it up, the nurse will be blamed for it. If she gets blamed for it, she may receive a demotion. If she receives a demotion, think of the impact on her family. No, this is my mess and I intend to clean it up.”

President Reagan looked at that mess, that silly spilled water, as an opportunity to learn. He saw it as a reminder from God to remain humble. He looked at that mess as a chance to serve someone else. He was thankful for the mess. 

What about you friend, are you thankful for the mess? That question draw me to Philippians 2:3.

Philippians 2:3 CSB

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.”

Brothers and sisters, that is our sermon title this morning. “Thankful In The Mess”

Today’s Message:

“Thankful In The Mess”

During the Convention, I heard a pastor say the following statement, “ministry is messy”. Boy oh boy there is truth in that statement. Ministry is marvelous. I believe that. It’s true. However, it is also messy. It can be really really messy. We step on each others toes all the time. We hurt each others feelings all to often. We bump into each other, let each other down, and personalities rub against each other creating friction. We may have a member who has a nature like silk. They are smooth, easy, they just seem to get along. We have other folks who are like sand paper. They are gritty, go getters, and they are task oriented. Do you know what sand paper does to silk and silk to sand paper? Oh yes, ministry can be messy. 

Beyond that, life can be messy. 

Things don’t always go as planned, and sometimes it feels like everything’s out of control. Relationships get complicated, plans fall apart, and we end up facing things we never expected. But here’s the good news: God’s got us, even in the mess. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we’re reminded to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This verse doesn’t say life will be smooth or perfect, but it does promise that if we trust Him, God will guide us through—even in the middle of life’s wild, messy moments.

So, what do we do when life gets messy? How can we be thankful in the mess? How can we have peace in turmoil? Fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. 

If you are looking for peace and protection, pray! We are going to talk about prayer this morning. If you are living in a season that is messy and you are struggling with being thankful, I will dare say it is because you are not praying. At least not effectively. 

Today’s Thought:

If You Are Looking For Peace and Protection, Pray!

Bob Goff is an extensive writer and I stumbled upon his book “Love Does” the other day. Listen to what he says about being thankful. Notice that I have bolded and underlined the most important part of the quote. Check it out. 

Today’s Quote:

“The way we love difficult people around us is the best evidence of what we really believe. We get to choose to be thankful for even the hard people and messy situations because they’re the ones teaching us to love like Jesus. It’s easy to love people who are fun, generous, and kind, but loving the ones who challenge us is where the real transformation happens. God doesn’t just call us to love when it’s convenient or comfortable; He calls us to love relentlessly, even when it’s hard. When we do, we’re changed, and our hearts grow to look more like His.”

— Bob Goff, Love Does

Did you hear that? “We get to choose to be thankful for the messy situations…”. Put the emphasis on “choose”. That’s right friends, we can choose to be thankful. Gratitude is not an emotion we fell, it is a choice to be made. 

Introduction of Scripture:

I want to remind you that we are reading Philippians 4:6-9. Before we read that passage, I want to set up the scene for you. 

The Apostle Paul wrote Philippians while he was imprisoned, likely around AD 60-62. This letter was addressed to the church in Philippi, a congregation that Paul had a deep affection for, as they had been loyal supporters of his ministry. Despite his chains, Paul’s tone is surprisingly joyful and encouraging, showing us that peace and joy don’t depend on circumstances but on our relationship with Christ.

In Philippians 4:6-9, Paul speaks directly to the anxiety that can take hold of anyone, especially in uncertain times. He encourages the believers to bring their worries to God in prayer, with a thankful heart, trusting that God’s peace will guard them. Paul also challenges them to dwell on things that are true, honorable, and praiseworthy, focusing their minds on what reflects God’s goodness. This passage serves as a reminder that even in the toughest moments, God offers peace that transcends understanding when we turn to Him.

I want to remind you that…

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible is inspired, infallible, and authoritative. It is vital for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. God’s Word brings life, peace, and protection, and it profoundly touches the human soul. As a unique and powerful book, let us stand in reverence and respect for it.

Today’s Scripture:

Philippians 4:6-9 NLT

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. [9] Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise His name, praise His Holy name.”

How Can We Make It Through The Mess With…Gratitude?

I. Change Your…Prayers: Turning Your Worry Into Worship vs 6-7

So, this morning, I want to answer the question, “how can we make it through the mess with gratitude”. That’s the trick am I right? How do we go through all the messes in ministry and all the messes in life and still be thankful?

Let’s use God’s Word in Philippians 4:6-9 as our roadmap. Fill in the blanks under Roman numeral one. Change your prayers. Turn your worry into worship. Go back and read verses 6 and 7. 

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

Friends, I want to remind you that none of us are immune to difficulty. Even Jesus, the Son of God, faced hardships. He was misunderstood, rejected, betrayed, and even endured the agony of the cross. Yet, in His darkest moments, Jesus prayed. When He was exhausted from ministry, Jesus prayed. When people doubted Him, He prayed. When people leveled their human expectations on Him, He prayed. On the night He was betrayed, He cried out to God, trusting God’s purpose. Jesus modeled the power of prayer in overcoming worry, showing us that even in pain, prayer redirects our hearts toward God.

Jesus wasn’t alone in facing trials. Look at Job—he lost his family, his health, his wealth, everything he valued. Through it all, Job cried out to God in his anguish, but he continued to worship, famously saying, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:21). Job’s hardship drove him to a deeper trust in God’s sovereignty, even when he didn’t understand.

Then there’s the Apostle Paul, who faced beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and constant threats to his life for the sake of the Gospel. Yet Paul wrote, ‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed’ (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Paul’s hardship led him to pray even more fervently and to rely completely on God’s strength.

These stories remind us that hardship isn’t a sign that God has abandoned us. Rather, it’s often through suffering that we grow closest to Him. Jesus, Job, Paul, they all turned their hardships into moments of deeper faith, finding their strength in prayer and trust in God’s purpose. For them, prayer was not just a way to cope; it was the way to stay aligned with God, to experience His peace, and to find gratitude even in the midst of suffering.

Brothers and sisters our level of thankfulness is directly tied to our level of prayer. When we pray, we align our hearts with God’s heart, and gratitude flows from that connection. In fact, the most grateful people I know are often the ones who have an active, thriving prayer life. I challenge you to think about the most thankful person you know and consider—does that person have a close, constant relationship with God through prayer?

What I have discovered is that worry is the thief of gratitude. It is hard to be grateful, hard to be thankful when you are constantly worrying about everything around you. Worry isn’t just harmless stress; it’s a sin. Why? Because worry is a tool the enemy uses to plant seeds of doubt, making us question if God will truly provide and protect. When we worry, we’re essentially saying, ‘I want control instead of trusting God.’ But when we replace worry with worship, we recalibrate our soul, moving from doubt to belief. As we worship, we affirm our faith in God, and this belief allows us to rest in Him. First Peter 5:7 reminds us of this truth: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

The other day I was doing my quiet time. I have been reading through I and II Chronicles. While I was reading, I was introduced again to King Jehoshaphat.  In 2 Chronicles 20, he faced the terrifying prospect of invasion by a massive army, vastly outnumbering his own forces. Overwhelmed and fearful, he called out to God in prayer, admitting his powerlessness by saying, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

Jehoshaphat’s worry drove him to seek God’s guidance, and as he prayed, God answered by assuring him, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Jehoshaphat’s prayer led to a profound sense of peace and confidence, as he trusted God to handle the situation. He even instructed his army to sing and praise God as they marched into battle, demonstrating his faith.

Through Jehoshaphat’s story, we see how prayer turned his worry into worship, bringing him from fear to faith. His prayer and trust in God’s power didn’t just relieve his worry but led to a miraculous victory. Jehoshaphat’s story illustrates how surrendering our fears in prayer allows God to replace worry with peace and gratitude, even in the face of overwhelming challenges. 

If God will do it for him, He will do it for you too. 

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

How Can We Make It Through The Mess With…Gratitude?

I. Change Your…Prayers: Turning Your Worry Into Worship vs 6-7

II. Change Your…Perspectives: Focusing on God’s Goodness vs. 8

So, how can we make it through the mess with gratitude? First, change your prayers. Second, change your perspectives. Focus on God’s goodness. We see this in verse 8. 

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Perspective is important. It is important to keep everything in perspective and sometimes we need to change our perspective. It reminds me of a story I heard a long time ago about legendary coach John McKay of Southern Cal. his team after they had been humiliated 51-0 by Notre Dame. McKay came into the locker room and saw a group of beaten worn-out and thoroughly depressed young football players who were not accustomed to losing. He stood up on a bench and said, "Men, let’s keep this in perspective. There are 800 million Chinese who don’t even know this game was played." That’s what you call a shift of perspective.

So, let’s change our perspective this morning. 

Ok friends, we are going to have an interactive portion of today’s message. I don’t do this often but I feel that the Spirit is leading me to do. I want to ask you a question. Let’s take a second and just praise the Lord together. 

Here’s the question, if you could thank the Lord for one thing, maybe a blessing, what would you thank Him for?

I’ll ask it again, if you could thank the Lord for one thing, what would you thank Him for?

If you want to answer that question, just stand up and shout your answer. 

Go!

Great job folks. Wonderful. 

One of our biggest challenges is our tendency to become self-focused. We get caught up in our needs, our problems, our anxieties. We become what some people call ‘navel-gazers’—focused only on ourselves, missing the blessings around us. But when we take our eyes off ourselves and look up, we can see the countless ways God has been good to us.

Think about all the blessings that fill our lives every single day. We have the air we breathe, clean water, food in our homes, and a roof over our heads. We have family and friends who care for us. We have the freedom to worship openly. We live in a country where we have many liberties, and we have access to God’s Word anytime we want to open it. Each morning, we’re given new mercies from God (Lamentations 3:22-23). We’re surrounded by God’s creation, beauty that reminds us of His creativity and love. And most importantly, we have the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, who loved us enough to die for us. The blessings truly are endless.

Psalm 100:5 reminds us of God’s constant goodness: ‘For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.’ God’s goodness isn’t just in the big things—it’s in the small, everyday moments. But to recognize that, we have to train our minds to focus on Him and the good He provides, even in the midst of our struggles.

One way to do this is to surround ourselves with people who have grateful, Christ-centered hearts. The people we spend time with have a profound influence on our thoughts and attitudes. Proverbs 13:20 says, ‘Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.’ Grateful, godly people help us see life from a different perspective, encouraging us to focus on God’s blessings instead of our problems.

We can also fill our minds with things that point us back to God’s goodness—Scripture, praise and worship music, and uplifting resources. What we feed our minds shapes our perspective. Romans 12:2 reminds us, ‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.’ In a world full of noise and negativity, it’s easy to let the culture corrupt our thinking and lead us to focus on the temporary struggles instead of eternal hope.

Let’s remember to fix our thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy. When we fill our minds with the eternal, heavenly matters of God, our perspectives shift. Instead of seeing only our difficulties, we start to see God’s faithfulness. Instead of focusing on the mess around us, we recognize His hand guiding us through it. Changing our perspective doesn’t change our circumstances, but it does change our hearts, leading us to gratitude even in the hardest moments.

Psalm 100:5 ESV

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

How Can We Make It Through The Mess With…Gratitude?

I. Change Your…Prayers: Turning Your Worry Into Worship vs 6-7

II. Change Your…Perspectives: Focusing on God’s Goodness vs. 8

III. Change Your Practices: Living Out Thanksgiving Daily vs. 9

So, how can we make it through the mess with gratitude. Change your prayers. Change. Your perspectives. Lastly, change your practices. Live out thanksgiving every day. Let’s go back to verse 9. 

“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

One of my great heroes in ministry is the late great Charles Haddon Spurgeon. During his day, he was known as the “Prince of Preachers”. He was probably the most influential British preacher ever. He was an author and theologian. He served as the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London for over 38 years, where he preached to thousands each week. He was known for his powerful preaching and his passion for the Gospel. He believed in the authority of Scripture and his teachings emphasized salvation by grace through faith. He wrote numerous books, thousands of devotionals, dozens of commentaries, and thousands of sermons. He was only in his early 50’s when he passed. 

How did this man make such an impact in such a little time?

It’s said that Dr. Spurgeon would wake daily at 3 a.m. He would rise to get on his knees for prayer. He would spend hours in prayer, thanking God for his blessings. He would sing, praising God until the sun came up. When he passed, it was said that he had callouses on his knees from the many hours that he spent there. He was not one to waste time. He read 6 books a week. During the day, he allotted time to write outlines and manuscripts. His wife Susannah helped him prepare his sermons. She would read the Scripture aloud while he listened intently to her and after she was done, he would then start to write. He preached 13 times a week. He spoke at his church and at other churches where he was a guest. He also founded a pastor’s college, an orphanage, and produced more than 140 separate books. He also edited a magazine and responded to over 500 letters each week…by hand. 

One of the things that I found most interesting about Spurgeon was that he took a regularly scheduled Sabbath. Each Wednesday, yes the same day that is one of my busiest days, was Spurgeon’s sabbath day. A day where he rested. It is said that Spurgeon would use this day for prayer. He would share in a time of worship. He would spend time with his wife and children. He would have quiet reflection where he would just sit silently before the Lord. Spurgeon believed confidently that this break helped him be a better pastor, a better father, and a better husband. In a world that says go, go, go, Spurgeon was able to slow down, look up, and change his perspective. 

What are some things that you and I can do to change our perspective? How can we live out an attitude of thanksgiving daily?

Paul gives us a key in Colossians 3:17: ‘Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.’ Notice that Paul doesn’t limit gratitude to a single day or a specific act; he calls us to do everything in a spirit of thanksgiving, honoring Christ with our words and actions alike.

Just as Spurgeon practiced gratitude daily, we can build simple, intentional habits into our routine that keep our hearts focused on God’s goodness. First, we can start each day in prayer. Even if it’s a short prayer, we can thank God for the gift of a new day and ask Him to give us eyes to see His blessings. Throughout our day, we can pause to praise Him, especially in moments of stress or frustration, shifting our focus from the problem to God’s presence.

We can also choose a weekly Sabbath, a day to unplug from work and distractions and recharge with worship, reflection, and time with family. Like Spurgeon, we can take a day to reset our minds, enjoying God’s creation and remembering that it’s His strength, not our busyness, that sustains us. In a world that urges us to always do more, taking time to rest in God’s presence keeps our hearts centered on Him.

And finally, we can practice gratitude by serving others. When we shift our focus from our needs to the needs of others, we reflect Christ’s heart and grow in thankfulness. Helping others reminds us of God’s provision and His call to live out His love.

Friends, a life of thanksgiving isn’t a single moment or holiday—it’s a daily, practiced commitment to God. Let’s go into each day, like Spurgeon, with a spirit of thankfulness, trusting that God will use every prayer, every Sabbath, and every act of love to make us more like Christ. Let us strive to do everything in the name of Jesus, with gratitude flowing from our hearts.

Colossians 3:17 NASB

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Let Today’s Information Be Your Inspiration!

Closing Prayer:

Father God, we come before You with hearts that long to be filled with gratitude, even in the midst of life’s messes. Thank You for reminding us through Your Word in Philippians that we can turn our worry into worship, that we can choose to see Your goodness in every circumstance, and that thanksgiving is something we can live out each day.

Lord, help us to change our prayers, to bring our needs and concerns to You in faith, knowing that You hear and care for us. Guide us to change our perspectives, to see beyond the mess and to focus on Your goodness, Your faithfulness, and the countless blessings You’ve poured into our lives. And finally, help us to change our practices, to live out thanksgiving each day in our words, our actions, and our attitudes.

We ask for Your peace to guard our hearts and minds as we go forward. May we be lights in this world, showing others that true peace and gratitude come from knowing You. Thank You for being with us, for guiding us, and for loving us through every mess. We pray all this in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.