Have you found yourself giving thanks in the ruts of life?
If so, congratulations! You’re making significant strides in the gratitude department– something we should all strive for.
I get the importance of begin thankful. I’ve been intentional about teaching this concept to my children, and I’ve exercised the public display of gratitude myself.
Yet deep down, despite my proclamations to the contrary, I haven’t always been thankful.
Now, I’m typically a “glass half full” kind of gal, but sometimes those ruts run so stinking deep, I struggle with getting out of them or giving thanks in them.
Today, I’d like to encourage you that you don’t need to be a lifetime optimist to learn how to give thanks in even the holes and precipices of life.
Being thankful is a process we can learn. We can develop a habit of looking for the silver lining in all things.
In the words of Ann Voskamp, “While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving.” (One Thousand Gifts).
Now, notice, neither Ann nor myself said give thanks for everything. Obviously, some things are not good in and of themselves.
A son rejecting his parents, cancer, a devastating storm, a shooting in a school. These are not good, but good can come from them and is found in and around them. We often don’t know the extent of the silver lining. But God has promised that
“in all things [He] works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
As the storms come and those ruts cut deeper, it may seem impossible to find anything positive about them. However, as you shoulder on, look for that glint of silver in the otherwise drab landscape.
You will likely find the rut isn’t as deep as it first looked. More importantly, you will develop an “eye” for spotting God’s goodness.
Living thanks … a habit that will breed contentment and joy in all circumstances. (←Click to Tweet this!)
Q4U: Is there one glint of light you’ve noticed in an otherwise deep rut in your life—even a tiny gift of good? Let’s fill the comments with words of gratitude.
This is my last GIVEAWAY of the month. It has been an honor to be gifting so many articles of encouragement and inspiration, and I’m überexcited to be offering more products from Ann Voskamp for this giveaway. This time I’m giving away the audio version of Ann’s book One Thousand Gifts as well as the personal journal. Follow the options in the Rafflecopter for multiple entries. The Giveaway will be open until Sunday midnight.
By His daily grace,
Julie
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Photo by: Richard Webb [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I am a blessed wife, mother of four, and follower of Jesus Christ, celebrating each day through His grace. I write, edit, and speak as God leads.
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