When you are in the thick of difficulty or barely seeing the smoke begin to clear in life's circumstances, seeing 'the light at the end of the tunnel' or the good despitethe bad can feel like a torturous task.
The last two years have impacted lives all across the world. For some, it meant joblessness, losing a loved one, loneliness, or a depleted mental state as the world turned more and more unsure.
Though devastating, confusing, anxiety ridden and lonely, there still remains another side to the coin.
This Thanksgiving, I hope we can reflect on some of the blessings that chaos cannot drown out. The hidden gifts in a hurried world. The gift of seeing how fragile life can be and appreciating the one we have been given.
The gift of faith that carries us through times we never thought we would endure. The gift of time, family, friendships, the church, a good book, a hot cup of cocoa, or the kind stranger on the street. The gift of warmth, love, and a place to call home.
The little gifts that spread throughout our every day that are so easy to overlook. We are often inclined to count our worries and burdens, but my challenge and prayer for you as we close on another year soon is this:
Count your blessings.
Make a list of the simplest “gifts” and bring them to your remembrance when life threatens to steal your joy and rob you of a heart of thankfulness.
The remedy for a heart that has run empty is thankfulness. When it is hard to find something to be thankful for, remember our greatest gift is God Himself. When our hearts are reminded of this truth in the midst of our hopelessness, we can sing along with the Psalmist in 9:1-2, and our anthem will be:
"I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
Happy Thanksgiving Friends, in Christ, we have much to be grateful for!
Scripture:
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind." - Psalm 107:21
A Prayer for You:
Father, Your kindness extends to all people. Even when we don't see it, You are working. You know the hardships that I face, and although it can be difficult to see through the storm, help me to behold Your rainbow at the end of it. Open the eyes of my heart to see Your wonderful deeds in even the most mundane parts of my life. Help me to grow in thankfulness and to remember Your great love for me. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.
Be encouraged and be blessed 💞
