At the beginning of this month, I debated about posting things on social media somewhere that I was thankful for.
I've done it in the past on Facebook and Twitter, where I would post each day what I was thankful for that day. A few years ago, I kept track of things on my phone and did a weekly recap on my blog. Last year I posted collages on my personal Instagram account of the people and moments I was thankful for.
I think it's such a good practice to remember the things we are thankful for. It's something I wish I did on a more regular basis and not just during the month of November.
But sometimes it's also very hard to be thankful. When in the midst of trials, when things seem like they're falling apart, when life is throwing you curve ball after curve ball.
And yet, we are called to:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)
Wherever you find yourself this November, on this day, in 2016, I hope you are able to look around and find some things to be thankful for. Whether it's your health or the health of a loved one, your kids, your job, your home, the food on your table, your friends, your spouse, or even the fact that God still has you on this earth...I hope we can all find something to be thankful for.
This election and everything surrounding it has brought out so many negative and hateful emotions and actions in so many of us. Let's cling to love and be thankful in all circumstances, in spite of the bad stuff. Let's remember that we are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Let's live our lives caring for others and valuing them above ourselves.
There has been a lot of stuff going on in the lives of those around me lately.
Heavy, heavy stuff...
I sat down last week and thought of each person and situation...and realized just how many people I love are going through really tough trials right now.
It's heartbreaking and overwhelming, but the one thing we have all been able to cling to through it all is that God is still in control, He makes all things work for the good of those who love Him, and He has not left us or forsaken us.
All I can do in the moments when I feel so overwhelmed and sad is pray.
It seems simple, but it truly is the only thing I can offer that I know does make a difference.
When I was younger, our Kid's Church program took over a Sunday morning service. We sang our worship songs, played some of our games, and went through one of our teachings. The teaching was on prayer and the main message we left for the congregation was that Prayer Changes Things. Many people in the church remembered that simple phrase, and it was used a lot in the years to come. It's easy to remember, but it's also very true.
It's hard sometimes, because when we don't get what we want, we often feel like our prayers don't make a difference or that they aren't "working". But that is so far from the truth. Even though God knows about each and every situation in the lives of those around us, He still commands us in His Word to pray for one another.
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
(James 5:13-16, NIV)
Healing does not always come on this side of eternity, nor are all of our problems automatically solved with a few simple words offered up in prayer. But our first response in all situations, good and bad, should be to talk them over with God. Whether it be a situation we want to change or a situation that we are thankful for, it's important that we take the time to talk to God about it.
In the midst of all these trials surrounding me, a couple of songs have really ministered to my heart. I've shared them with a few friends because the words are just so powerful and true. One is Promises by Sanctus Real (I attached the video below) and the other is You Are by Colton Dixon. If you have not heard either one, or haven't really listened to the words, I would encourage you to do so. They are both beautiful and often bring tears to my eyes.
This time in my life has been a hard one. It hurts me to see and experience the things going on with the people I love. But I also know that God still has a plan, and I either have to trust Him...or not trust Him at all. I can't just trust Him when life is going good. It's always or never. Even though I don't understand everything, I am thankful that He does...and that He will turn all of these situations into good...somehow, some way.
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Some bring smiles to people's faces, other's bring tears of sorrow.
Some we go through on a daily basis, others are once in a lifetime...or come and go.
Regardless of the kind of test, we all deal with 'em.
In light of dealing with some various kinds of tests myself, I hope my response will be a positive one. I hope the light of Jesus will shine through me...even on days when it might be really hard to do so. I hope God will get a lot of glory.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:2-6, NIV)
I have been struggling the last couple of days with the news that my uncle, while he is conscious and somewhat aware of what is going on around him, is refusing to eat. I know that he tried to kill himself, so he obviously was done living when he did that...but I was hoping this would be a second chance for him. The fact that he lived through it meant that God had a plan for him still being here...right? I just couldn't believe that God would let him live for a couple of weeks longer, only for my uncle to decide that he doesn't want to live and he's done...again. But, my ways are not God's ways...me thinking that I could ever comprehend the ways of God is putting God in a box...a Breeann box. I know that God is working through this whole situation, even if it is tough to see at this very moment why things are turning out the way they are. I have been reading through James, as we are starting a study on James in my Bible study this week, and I was struck by this section, as I am every time I read it: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (vs. 2-4) Pure joy...how many times do I really look at tough situations and try to muster up the joy I need in my life to get through them? That doesn't mean that I have to be happy and smiling at the time; it means that I am relying on God to get me through and knowing everything in my life that is good comes from Him (see James 1:17). Sure, life is going to be hard and have its rough moments, but that doesn't mean that I turn my back on what I know to be true in this life. And, I don't have to understand everything on my own. If I am leaning on my own understanding, I will never understand. Instead, I need to lean on God (see Proverbs 3:5-6) and seek His wisdom (see James 1:5). So, while I may not understand why God allowed my uncle to live through this, I know that God works all things together for good (see Romans 8:28). Somehow, some way, God will be glorified in this situation, and someone will be affected for the good. My prayer is that my non-believing family members will turn their hearts to God and learn to trust Him, as they never have before; and that those who do have a relationship with God will be strengthened during this time, not disheartened.
