What do you mean; give thanks to losing my
job and losing my house? Why should I give thanks that I’ve just been diagnosed
with cancer? Why am I expected to give thanks after four miscarriages and I want
a baby? What in the heck do you mean; give thanks that my husband has run off with
another woman, leaving me and our kids on food stamps? Are you serious?! How can
this be God’s will for me?!
With Thanksgiving Day coming up in a little
less than 2 weeks (for those of us who live in the USA) it has caused me to pause and
think about what it really means to give thanks in all things.
Thanksgiving Day has always been my happiest
holiday. It meant seeing family I didn’t get to see every day, and eating some
of the best food I ate all year—especially stuffing. When I was growing up, turkey
was special—not like today where we can buy a turkey any time of year and eat
it every day if you choose. I remember my mother, her sisters, brothers and
cousins sitting around after we had finished eating, and talking about old
times and how far they had come and all they had to be grateful for. And now
that I think back, they lived through some very hard times (especially as
people of color), but they seemed grateful for how those times had shaped them
and all they had accomplished over the years. No one left early to go
shopping—all stores were closed back then. It was all about family, friends and
reminiscing about the hard times that were now the good times. It seems they
knew something; we are having a hard time grasping in today’s society.
We mummer and complain an awful lot to be
children of the King. How many of you have prayed and begged God for a husband,
a house or a particular job or maybe any job? He gives it too you, and when the
honeymoon period is over—you wonder if it was a mistake? Marriage is hard work,
the upkeep of a house takes money, and working for someone else can be demanding.
Now you are complaining, murmuring and begging God to get you out!
You’ve lost your income and have become
dependent on others, yet you were someone who worked all your life. There’re
lessons to be learned here.
Cancer is trying to literally eat you up
and take you out of here. There are lessons to be learned in the fight.
Your husband left you and the kids and
times are hard. There are lessons to be learned.
Jesus never promised us a rose garden; in
fact He promised there would be trials, tribulations and heartaches. But He
also promised we would not be alone in them. And Paul goes on to tells us that
we are more than conquerors. Which translates into—we are going to have things
in our lives that we must overcome because that is the only way you conqueror
something. Overcome and overtake it.
Your heart is breaking; do you thank God
for the pain and broken heart? No, but I’ve learned to thank Him for being
there for me and His promise of how close He is to those with a broken heart.
And once through the pain and the lesson to be had—there have been times of
great praise because hindsight can surely be 20/20.
As you battle Cancer, if nothing else your
dependence on God increases and your faith grows stronger.
Being abandoned by your husband, teaches
you to forgive (in a huge way), and realize God as your true provider and
source—and find out that you are more than just a wife and mother.
Being in a situation where you don’t know
where your next dollar is coming from, helps you with the pride in your life
(we all struggle with pride) and reinforces your faith in God’s provisions for
those things that you truly have need of.
See sisters, no matter how difficult the
circumstances may be—we can always find something to be thankful for. Because
after all—it is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. Remembering He is with us no matter what!
It’s time for us to stop praying and
begging God that we be released from situations and pray for strength and endurance. If you
look at all the praying Paul did through his ministry there was only one
instance where he prayed the hardship be taken away. And quickly agreed with
God when He said, “No!” Other than that his prayers for himself and others were
that they would be able to stand and endure. Even Jesus prayed the same for us.
(see John 17)
We must stop complaining to God about our husbands and children and what they don’t do, and start thanking God for the things they
do. Even if your marriage is not good, your job sucks, and you are not where you
had hoped you would be in life—if you believe that God is finishing a good work
in you, that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose—then you have much to be thankful for—especially in the hard times.
Let’s take a moment to read what perseverance
in our times of trouble produces for us. Romans
5:3-5 (Click)
No more skipping over scriptures or picking
out only the ones we want to read. It’s time to really delve into the Word, so
that we can endure and be a light to others. No more complaining for the world
to see.
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