Thankfulness

As Christians, we know the hope we have in Jesus. Our hope is greater than any here and now. Without Christ, we are alone in this world and without God. There is much to be thankful for. Jesus is the door to peace and eternal life. But it can be hard to be thankful in all circumstances as this song declares, quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:18- “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

At times, we can question the goodness of God and Jesus’ love for us when we run into trials and problems. Especially if they are ongoing, and don’t seem to stop or give you a break. But that’s when courage comes in. That’s when remembrance of all the times you’ve come through hard times before because you kept the faith and didn’t give up. I love the Scripture and have experienced it often – there’s weeping and tears in the evening, but in the morning, joy.

Psalm 30:1-5

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, Lord,
    for you lifted me out of the depths
    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
² Lord my God, I called to you for help,
    and you healed me.
³ You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
    you spared me from going down to the pit.

⁴ Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
    praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Many times, especially during the season of updating this website, I encounter problem after problem. Day after day, I labored trying to figure out my website issues. I would be exhausted at the end of the day; with more hindrances and things I didn’t understand than at the beginning! It was then, at my weakest, when I was run down and exhausted, that I found myself questioning, “Why is the Lord allowing all of this. Couldn’t He have made it a little easier?” Everyone else didn’t seem to have to labor as hard. But then I stopped myself. God was doing bigger things in me and for me than I could see.

I’ve walked with the Lord Jesus for nearly twenty years, and I’ve learned through these years that He does exceedingly more than I could ever think or ask. Jesus is always orchestrating perfection – in me, around my circumstances, so that I, and others, will inherit perfection! I’m not trying to say that this website is perfect. No, it’s not what I’m saying. It’s the soul work of God, in my soul and others’ souls, for eternal life, God is orchestrating for this purpose and plan

At the end of every trial, the Bible says we will rejoice and enjoy the fruits of righteousness. And I can testify to this, through trials and difficulties, even long-suffering over the complexities of website building and design, I’m refined. And I like the results!

James 1:2–4

Testing of Your Faith

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Can you imagine being perfect and complete! I honestly can’t, but that is our hope, the work of the Father and the Lord. It’s why the song Thankful Heart ends the verse after declaring that “I come with a thankful heart in all circumstances,” with the answer of wisdom: “Christ.”

“You alone are the way of Salvation
Jesus Christ, Son of God”

I’m wise enough to know God is up to something in my trials and difficulties; Jesus is perfecting me for eternal life with Him.

God is making everything beautiful and spectacular in His time

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

When I embraced my trials with my website development, it became easier. I’m not saying I wasn’t exhausted at the end of the day, or that I didn’t feel overwhelmed at times. But my burdens felt lighter when I embraced the fact that God was working out everything for perfecting me and my circumstances. Jesus and I really worked together. I’m not saying it wasn’t hard, and I couldn’t take it lightly. But I enjoyed the challenge, and the closeness I felt with the Lord as He helped me find the answers to my problems. I could see His perfect leading and steadfastness, and I felt blessed.

I hope this song is an anthem to remind you. Praise and thankfulness to Christ lift us out of bleak places and into the throne room and mercies of God.