Today is Thanksgiving and I’ve taken the time to point out some of the many blessings You’ve given me. It’s so exciting that You would give me so much when I deserve nothing. I’m humbled by Your love and grace—Your desire to give such great gifts to Your undeserving daughter.
I’m tempted to make a list of all the things, people, and gifts You’ve given me that I often overlook, and then tell You “Thanks” as if by mere acknowledgement of it all You’ll be glorified. But how could making a list of the things in my life that I’ve deemed as “good” be enough for You?
You desire so much more, and while I do thank You, and I do acknowledge the many blessings I enjoy yet don’t deserve—the family members You’ve given me, the mutt that’s brought so many laughs to our home, the ministry opportunities with and without the church, the love You’ve given me for the high schoolers, the godly examples You’ve put in my life, the many friendships that encourage me, the variety of talents You’ve blessed me with, the warm showers and baths I enjoy so much in the States, my own room that perfectly reflects my personality—I also cling to Your Word You’ve given (And I do thank You and praise You for Your precious Word).
In Romans 8:28, You use Paul to say that all things work together for the good of those who love You. In Romans 8:18, You say that our current sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. In Philippians 4:4, You call us to rejoice in You always. In Psalm 118:1, You say to give You thanks because You are good and Your love endures forever.
If all these Words are true, and I believe with my whole heart that they are, then I believe I have even more to be thankful for. I realize that in addition to the things in my life that I easily label as “good” (and they certainly do make me feel great), I also thank You for the things I often dismiss and the things I label as “bad.” While some of these things really are sad, frustrating, and even classified in Your Word as sin, I thank You for everything because Your Word promises that all things work together for the good of those who love You, and I do love You.
So I thank You and praise You not despite, but because of the difficulties in my life. I thank You that the dog You blessed me with also has the issues of aggression and biting and now I have to spend money and time to train her. I thank You for having me live in a home that does not always put You first, for the devastation caused by family members who do not love You, for the confusion and anxiety I often experience now that I’m done with school and trying to figure out what to do each day, for the depression I often battle, for the daily struggle to please You as I fight against my flesh and often fail, for the people who have hurt me, and for the experiences that make me miserable and reveal how weak I truly am.
I thank You for all of this, because You have allowed it, and, while I can’t always see what You’re doing, I know that You are teaching me more than I can know, refining me through the difficult processes, reminding me of my desperate need to cling to You always, humbling me through my many inadequacies, preparing me for what may come next. You are always good and worthy of praise, You will work all things together for my good, and You reveal Your glory in and through me.
As I struggle to rejoice in You always, I will take on an attitude of gratefulness. I will thank You for the traffic—You may be preventing me from speeding and crashing; You may be using it to cultivate patience; You may be providing extra time for me to spend with You; You may be doing something I can’t even comprehend. But You are good, everything You allow works for my good, and I will thank You.
I will allow You to remind me that the only reason I can rest in the hope that all things work together for my good is because of Your great love and mercy. So Jesus, more than anything You’ve given me and regardless of how it all makes me feel, I thank You for Your perfect love. Thank You for dying on the cross, being separated from the Father, enduring the wrath I deserved, and rising again so that I may come to You broken, disgusting, and dying, and so that You may make me white as snow and promise me new life. I know my words will never be enough, I know I can’t even comprehend how much You’ve done and are doing, how great You really are, and You knew it, too, when You chose to die for me.
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