1.1.20

I decided to steal Dabo Swinney’s idea of having a word for each year. I felt early in the fall that thankfulness was a word the Lord wanted to press into my heart for the 2020 season. It is truly amazing how difficult it can be to be thankful, despite all the Lord provides for us. We are hard wired to consume, compete, and strive for more, and for this reason we are always looking ahead to what is next. The troubling part is that this only removes us from the present. Focusing on what I am thankful for helps keep me in the present and removes the longing for what I don’t have. I just never seem to do it enough. Giving thanks has to be the greatest antidote for worry, stress, doubt, fear, and pride.

In most cases, I find it is usually pretty easy to be thankful for things that God blesses us with. When God gives a gift, it seems to be a natural response to give thanks. However, when we go through challenging times, we often feel victimized by God and lose perspective of His intent for what we are going through. God’s grace and mercy is unchanging; it is only our perspective of His grace that gets clouded. When life doesn’t make sense, doesn’t seem fair, or brings pain and suffering, we are called to overflow with thanksgiving because God’s will is for all pain and suffering to serve a purpose in our lives. And that purpose is to chisel us closer into who God created us to be. For this reason, we should give thanks in all circumstances.

Whatever you are going through today, good or bad, remain thankful. Because what you are going through today is exactly what the Lord has put in your path in order for you to become all that you were created to be.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18