“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In Everything Give Thanks
This past week I had some type of stomach bug that really took a toll on me. I haven’t been that sick in a while and I am glad I am through it. Most of the time when I’ve been sick, I just sit there in misery, waiting for it to pass. This time however, when I was feeling achy, tired and awful, I did something different. I started thanking God for what he blessed me with. I thanked him for the five senses I had. I thanked him that I could breathe. The fact that I had a job, a roof over my head and a car. You know what happened? God took me into a place of gratitude that I have never been in before and it provided me hope and showed me that the temporary situation I was suffering through wouldn’t last forever.
A similar thing happened to Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis a few years ago. His situation was a little worse than mine though. He tore the same ACL three times in three consecutive years. Doctors thought he would never play football again. The first two times, Davis wondered where God was and why he would allow this to happened. But something changed the third time. He embraced the hard time, fought for his dream and didn’t give up. There hasn’t been an ACL injury since.
At an awards breakfast, Davis told everyone how he overcame such struggle. “I know it’s the grace of God that’s allowed me to do that” he said. And Davis said he thanks God all the time for allowing him to achieve his dream of playing in the NFL and providing for his family.
What is it for you? What are you struggling with or having a hard time with in life? I encourage you to find things to thank God for now to stir up a heart of gratitude. Then, when God answers your prayer(s), you won’t have a hard time thanking him for doing greater things in your life. Plus, it’ll turn your focus to him during your difficult time and he will give you a perspective switch. Trust me, it’ll work.
You’ll thank me later.
