A Grateful Heart

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving, and we all know that it is a special time devoted to giving thanks to God for the many blessings we have received. As families are seated around the table preparing to feast on delicious food, many engage in a familiar tradition wherein everyone takes a turn to share what he or she is most thankful for. No doubt, most often on the list is food, family, good health, and friends. And rightfully so--we should be thankful for these wonderful gifts. But have you ever heard someone say, "I'm thankful that I lost my job last month," or "I'm thankful that our country is going through an economic crisis?" Or how about, "I'm thankful that my stock portfolio is down by thousands of dollars?" I can almost bet that nothing like that is ever voiced around the Thanksgiving table!

So much of what we do not consider good or something to be grateful for is simply a matter of perspective. If things aren't going the way we'd like, we become discontent. Before long the grumbling sets in and next thing you know we begin to forget the many blessings we do have. We soon become downright ungrateful for the disappointments that life inevitably brings us. If we can just take off our foggy glasses and try to look at the situation from God's perspective we may just realize that things are not as bad as they seem. Our outlook on life is everything. If we look for the thorns, we will find them. Yet if we choose to focus on the beautiful blossoms, we may not even notice the thorns. I'm not saying we should hide our faces in the sand and become oblivious to the realities around us. What I am saying is that we need to shift our focus off of ourselves and change our perspective. We are incapable of predicting the future, and we are often unable to see the "value" in disappointments, trials and suffering. Yet God tells us in Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Jesus tells us that in this world we will have troubles, but we are to take heart for He has overcome the world. So why not take Him at his Word? He will overcome, and we who are in Him will overcome. Why do we allow the world to get to us? We have the power in Him to overcome our challenges, our difficulties, our trials. Can it be that we simply do not trust Him? I believe our view of life and the contentment we experience as a result is directly related to our trust in Him. Jesus himself, the perfect Son of God, lived a very difficult life. He was insulted, persecuted, and ultimately crucified for all mankind. Yet despite all of that rejection and sorrow, he remained loving, gracious, kind, and forgiving. He knows what is waiting for us on the other side. Only when we take the focus off of ourselves and onto Him will we be able to persevere no matter what comes our way.

So when life squeezes you in, why not pour out lemonade instead of a sour response? When difficulties come your way, why not trust in the God who can change your circumstances? When family or friends let you down, why not turn to the only one who will never forsake you? The bottom line is that you have a Choice. You can be a pessimist or an optimist. You can look at your glass as "half empty" or "half full". If you choose to focus on and look for the bad, you will always find it. Or you can choose to accept the fact that while life on earth may be difficult at times, you are given an opportunity to grow in character and draw closer to the only One who has all the answers and has the power to mold your character in a way that truly transforms you. The real blessings will come. All of a sudden you'll notice that the stresses and nuances in life don't have such a hold on you anymore. In fact, they no longer have power over you. Things that used to bother you so significantly will seem so trivial and unimportant. You will be able to "go with the flow" a little easier and not fret over minor inconveniences. Your perspective will change and you'll soon realize that you've traded in your foggy glasses for 20/20 vision--God's vision. You'll know more than ever before that you are only a stranger here just passing through and that your real citizenship is in heaven. Life on earth is just an "elementary playground" where you are given an opportunity to perfect love, to grant forgiveness, to extend grace, and to bestow blessings on others. If you strive to live your life this way with His help, then one day when your brief time here is over, God will welcome you into His kingdom with the words I know we all long to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil 3:20