It’s easy to thank God when everything is peachy keen. The sun is shining. I’m having a wonderful hair day. My kiddos are playing together in perfect harmony. My husband willingly turned on Downton Abbey and just passed me the last chocolate chip cookie. Thank you, Lord!
But there have been times in my life when I have felt cursed.
Jobs were lost. Loved ones suffered terminal illnesses. Relationships ended. Gossip spread. Life happened – sometimes all at once.
I didn’t blame God in these trials, but I certainly didn’t thank Him either. I pulled up my bootstraps. Put on a brave face. Relied on myself. Suffered alone. And let my grief completely overwhelm me until I “despaired even of life itself.” (2 Corinthians 1:8, NIV)
As Paul writes, though I was very much alive, I was living out a death sentence, of my spirit at the very least.
Until.
Until like Paul, I was forced to trust God totally.
Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since He’s the God who raises the dead! (2 Corinthians 9-10, MSG)
And it turns out walking through these hard seasons is often the best thing could ever happen.
Because it is there that we find Him.
It is there that we learn that the strength of our bootstraps will fail, but the joy of the Lord won’t.
It is there that we learn that we don’t need to put on a brave face, we simply need to seek His.
And ultimately, it is there that we learn that He knows our suffering, because He suffered too. For me. For you.
Maybe you and I will never be to the point in our faith walk where we’re able to say, “Okay, Lord, troubles and trials? Bring ‘em on!” But we can pray for each other to get to a point where we trust that we’re just seeing a few brushstrokes on the gigantic masterpiece He’s painting.
Where we don’t fear what’s ahead, because we know it’s already happened in the eyes of our Master Planner.
Where we acknowledge that He shares in our sufferings, but He also shares in our comfort.
Where we can remember that He’s rescued us before and that He’ll do it again…as many times as we need rescuing. (2 Corinthians 9-10, MSG)
And for that we can say thank you, even when nothing seems peachy keen. Because there is no pit we’re in that is deeper than His love.
Let’s give thanks that He is on our side. Today and every day.
When I read this the first time on the first day, it made me ask what if…
What if the Lord, though these past years had not been on my side, our side?
We would have sank low to the bottom of life. We thought we were at the bottom, but that was not the bottom. It was the hand of God catching us before we hit the bottom and became nothing. Yes God, thank you. If you had not been on our side, much worse would have come upon us. Our help, any help that came to us, any good thing that came our way was you helping us. You are the source of all goodness and our help when we needed you O God who made heaven and earth.
Going through a hard time right now, God is really working in my life. I have found this wonderful bible study, I have started reading my bible more, going to Him in prayer more. I can't say to " bring on" more troubles in life, but I am very thankful that even though I am struggling and very low in spirit, I am not alone. I have a wonderful, gracious and loving Heavenly Father who loves me and is carrying me through it all. I am growing in faith and know that I am not alone.
Today’s scripture…so good. The Lord reminded me that He is for me, not against me. Oh how I need this as I feel pounded with lies and condemnation from the enemy.
As I was thinking on the verses, I was reminded of my 14 month old daughter and her blankie. She goes on a hunt for that thing when she’s tired or upset and she holds it up against her face. It occurred to me that we should be the same way with God’s word. Through it He comforts us.
“I need Thee, Oh I need Thee! Every hour I need Thee!”
One of the hardest things is to give control to someone else.
"But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God" 2 Corinthians 1:9
Not only do we need to be thankful when things are going great but we also need to be thankful during the not so great times. I truly believe that this is where we really grow as christians. It is not easy to have joy during the tough times but when we fight for that joy, that's when we really shine for HIM! He brings us through these things to turn to Him and turn away from the enemy.
Such powerful words that we need to remember daily!
Grace and Peace, what an awesome testimony! I have that book to readd. Have it from audible. Adeline, yours was also awessome! I have been married for 16 years and am often reminded that I need to appreciate him more, but I doon’t do so as much as I could. What a concept that my husband is on loan to me from the Lord. Wow!
Love this. What a truly faithful christian indeed who can give thanks and trust.
This is amazing. God has been teaching me to be thankful. I’ve had health problems and I’m in pain every day, and I usually wake up grumpy (my poor husband!). But as I walk through the halls of the school I work at, I try to list everything I’m thankful for. No matter the circumstances God is good to me. Hearing all of your stories is so encouraging.
I love in the devo when it says to stop putting on a brave face. So guilty of doing that! I’m learning to be vulnerable and rely on God.