*I should preface this by saying I’m heavily medicated at the moment so please forgive any typos and grammatical errors.
Your social media feeds may have been inundated the last 21 days with “thankful” posts much like mine has been. And if you’re like me like right now, you may be finding it difficult to be thankful about anything at the moment.
If you could see me right now (no I’m not posting any photos of myself) then you’d see a girl who hasn’t showered because frankly I don’t have the energy to even stand, I smell like Vicks and essential oils from head to toe, I’ve lived on crackers and Gatorade for days now, and I cry a little every time I have to cough because it hurts so bad. Needless to say, I’ve been finding it hard to be thankful about anything.
A few weeks ago I was with some sweet ladies at a monthly bible group discussing the topic of thankfulness. One of the ladies read a quote from a local ministry:
“Victory belongs to those who give thanks where they are on the way to where they want to be”.
As we discussed this statement, we each took turns saying what we’re thankful for on the way to where we want to be.
Some responded they’re thankful for their health (speaking by faith), others thankful for their marriage even when they’re in the hard times, and some, thankful for their singleness on their way to the husband God has for them.
I’ve thought very long and hard about this while being confined to the couch/bed all week. What do I have to be thankful for?!
I’m in pain.
I’m contagious.
I stink.
I did not want to use my PTO for this.
I’m missing family thanksgiving.
I’m missing the fun of Black Friday.
I’m. Missing. The. POINT.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
God’s will for us is to be thankful no matter what the circumstances are. No, it’s not because He’s wanting to teach us a lesson out of it. God wants us to be reminded that the covenant we hold with Him is greater than any adversity or circumstance you’re going through. And when you begin to give thanks no matter what it looks like around you, instead of mumbling and complaining, we’ll find ourselves standing in the victory sooner than we realize and we’ll enjoy the time spent on the way a whole lot more!
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:57
So today I’m going to stop giving place to the circumstances around me and instead be thankful for where I am because I know the victory is just on the horizon!!
I’m thankful I have a job and have the PTO available so I don’t have to worry about my bills.
I’m thankful for my Obamacare plan (she said begrudgingly) that makes being sick not quite as expensive as it would have been without it.
I’m thankful for a doctor who has wisdom in how to treat this.
I’m thankful for the God given wisdom to Alexander Fleming for antibiotics.
I’m thankful that even though I’m missing family thanksgiving, I still have a family who will be here tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that!
I’m thankful this isn’t the flu.
I’m thankful I’m recovering at home and not at a hospital.
I’m thankful for dry shampoo.
I’m doubly thankful for Cheese-itz and blue Gatorade.
But most of all – I’m thankful that this battle is already won and the victory is mine through Jesus!
What adversity are you in the middle of that you should start giving thanks for instead of mumbling and complaining about?
Maybe you’ve had a diagnosis from the doctor that isn’t good.
Maybe you’re in the middle of a financial crisis.
Maybe you’re in a marriage where you can no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Just remember no matter what it is that you’re facing – your victory lies in the thanks you give where you are on the way to where you’re going!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to give my “to-go” order to my family for my thanksgiving meal – hello pecan pie.
Guiding GRACE 