Thankful

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

The latter part of the year is a season where there is a hyper-awareness of our need to be thankful. Have you noticed, or is it just me?

We see it on social media, in the home decor section at Target, in our daily devotionals and more. While these beautiful reminders to be thankful are super appropriate for this season of the year, maybe you’re finding that it’s not as appropriate for this season of your life.

If that struck a chord in your heart, take a deep breath, you’re not alone. I know these things are incredibly difficult to admit to ourselves, to friends, and to God. So, I’ll go before you and say it for us: I’m finding it difficult to be thankful in this season of my life, and I’m feeling pretty ashamed of it.

I feel ashamed because scripture tells me that the praise of the Lord should forever be on my lips (Psalm 34:1), and lately it hasn’t been.

I feel ashamed because I have a roof over my head, food in my refrigerator, and the newest iPhone in my hand.

I feel ashamed because I carry the name of the Lord into nearly all of my conversations, but if you took a peek inside my soul you might see that it’s pretty empty and worn out.

I’d like you to take a minute and write down the shame you’ve been carrying about your lack of thankfulness, and let’s get to work on encouraging each other because this is not where our story will end today.

Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of our system let’s rejoice that it’s already lost power in our lives! Woo. Friends, please know that I’m not trying to downplay the struggles, the loss, the hurt, and the pain you’ve experienced this year or even lately because that’s just not how we roll around here.

Let’s acknowledge it. Let’s honor it. Let’s feel it. Let’s lean in to some of the pain we’ve been avoiding and ask God to come close and mend this hurt. He will never avoid your brokenness even if you have, ok? (Cue thankfulness.)

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Now that we’ve done some hard work, let’s rest and remember the love that has been poured out on you, on us, even when you’re finding it hard to be thankful. Jesus isn’t disappointed or think less of you because you’re struggling in this area, it’s just not in His character. He is overjoyed with love for you, every single day, all the time! (Cue more thankfulness.)

When we choose to move toward Jesus and confess to Him where we’re feeling a lack, He moves towards us, and when He moves towards us we can’t help but feel thankful for His presence. His presence, no matter how far away or ashamed you feel, will never ever leave you. (Deuteronomy 31:6) (Cue all the thankfulness!)

Do you see what’s happening here? That sneaky little thankfulness.

Here is the hard but sweet truth that I hope you can see clearly now -- thankfulness isn’t a feeling, it’s an act and a posture of obedience because of our desire to draw near and bring glory to God even in our messy pain.

I’m so thankful for you, sweet friend. I’m thankful for your bravery, your authenticity to press into hard things, to sit with me and dig into the true meaning of thankfulness. Make sure you carry this into the world as your practice it, you might find someone who needed it as much as you did.

Please share an area of your life that you feel is preventing you from practicing thankfulness. We’d love to pray for you and continue this encouragement!

You.Are.Loved