Fear and anger was all over her face. She stormed
into the house with mixed emotions. Regardless of what I did, I couldn’t reach
my dear friend.
What in the world was going on?
It was her birthday but she did not see any reason
to be celebrating.
She whined, cried and moaned about how her life
sucked!
Nothing I said made sense to her.
It is crazy when everything is out of order,
chaotic and nothing in our present state is anything close to what we have
desired.
That is point where we break down and life in
itself stops making sense.
These are times when giving thanks is hard.
These are times we feel God is so far from us.
I understand that sometimes life squeezes out thankfulness and drowns us with pools of worries and screaming needs.
As my friends in the US are having "Thanksgiving holidays", yet very many of us don't feel thankful.
Is your life a hot mess and you forgotten how to be thankful?
She stormed out of the room yelling...
“Where is God in all of these?”
Deep down I knew the Lord needed her attention,
I knew the Lord was working behind the scene in
her case.
I knew the Lord loves her.
What I don’t know are His plans for her.
I can’t claim to know understand why God allows
her to go through this situation.
As long as you grip firmly to Him, He won’t fail you.
By now I was in tears too...
With my heart ripped in pain, I said, “I wish I could
rescue you but I can’t it is only God who can”.
“I am done with God and church, I am not making
head way" she retorted.
In the steep peak of our problems, the
enemy strives hard to
plunge us into lies
devised to shrink our faith.
She went to her car and sat still in tears.
“Holy Spirit, please intervene” I prayed in my
room before stepping out to join her in the car.
I have found the Lord to be faithful and true in
all situations.
I don’t know how God did it. But somehow everything changed. The
Lord calmed her weary soul.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you.
1Thessalonians 5:18
Giving thanks is not a suggestion.
Giving thanks is a privilege.
Giving thanks is an instruction for our living.
Giving thanks is an un-refusable invitation to appreciate God.
For in death there is
no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
Psalms 6:5
Are you on the sick bed right now and can’t think
of any reason to be thankful?
Are you laid back in debts?
Whatever your situation, in whichever phase of
life you are, it’s not going to be forever.
It is not going to last long.
You are alive right now, there is hope.
You’ve got family and friends who love you, keep pressing on.
That day I realized that sometimes people need more encouragement
and follow up.
Other times, the gospel.
And a times, our help (financial, social or material
support) is all they need to cling on to hope.
In reaching a desperate soul, we need to take care
of the edgy feeling, make them comfortable as much as we can.
Then like a door wide open their hearts will
become more receptive to the gospel of salvation.
We had lunch and chatted lightly...and it went
well.
Praise God!
The Lord touched her heart with renewed hope that
things will get better.
**********
Thankfulness is a mentality we need to cultivate.
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:20
If the Lord got us through situations
before, He
will without fail get
us through this one too.
Be thankful in Good times because the Lord has
given us laughter.
Be thankful in Bad times because it could be worse
and the Lord is still working out things for our good.
When you don’t feel thankful, sit in silence and
reminisce on how the Lord has brought you through thus far.
When you don’t feel thankful, remember the
faithfulness of the Lord in time past.
When you don’t feel thankful, meditate on the Word
of truth He has promised...
I am thankful not because everything is going well
but because it is good to appreciate the Lord at all times.
Be encouraged
Be thankful
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for all that you have done.
You know my weakness and see deep in my heart, help me to see 'me' the way you do.
Help me to see beyond these circumstances that are pressing and hold firmly to your Word.
Breathe on me afresh and fill my heart with joy.
Open my heart, Lord and fill me with thanks in Jesus Name. Amen
Comment Prompt: Have you ever found yourself unthankful? How can you encourage someone to be thankful today?
By His Great Grace,
Ifeoma Samuel
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