Grateful Living
Grateful Living
By Val Peaker
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Sometimes life throws a few barriers across your path. Disappointments, losses, the grief of unfulfilled dreams. I am sure you could name many more. What do you do when these obstacles pop up on the pathway of life? What does it look like to “be thankful in all circumstances”?
My experience has taught me that it’s not necessarily what you do first that matters. Your initial reaction is probably justified: sadness, frustration, anger, difficult feelings, walking away, over analysing, overreacting. Or is that just me?! It’s what we do next that counts. How do we choose to respond after our initial reaction has subsided? Focus on a Godly goal. Take some time and space to assess and heal. Talk to a trusted friend to restore perspective. The gift of listening and allowing others to be heard, is to be treasured. Be kind to others and yourself. Have faith that God will do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Remind yourself that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).
I am so grateful for my life with all of its ups and downs over more than 70 years now. I can see how God has not wasted any experience. Growing up, my family would have been considered ‘poor’, but we were rich! We knew the love of our parents and the example of their faith. They pointed us to the beauty to be found in helping others, in offering kindness, and in God’s creation: the ocean, sunsets, nature, and flowers. And they taught us to balance the scales of life with laughter and enjoyment.
When life throws you a curve ball, after the initial reaction, choose to respond with thankfulness. Count your blessings. Bake a cake. Start a gratitude list. Look for the rainbows of God’s faithfulness in the storms of life.
And always—in all ways—give thanks for every thing.
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Sometimes life throws a few barriers across your path. Disappointments, losses, the grief of unfulfilled dreams. I am sure you could name many more. What do you do when these obstacles pop up on the pathway of life? What does it look like to “be thankful in all circumstances”?
My experience has taught me that it’s not necessarily what you do first that matters. Your initial reaction is probably justified: sadness, frustration, anger, difficult feelings, walking away, over analysing, overreacting. Or is that just me?! It’s what we do next that counts. How do we choose to respond after our initial reaction has subsided? Focus on a Godly goal. Take some time and space to assess and heal. Talk to a trusted friend to restore perspective. The gift of listening and allowing others to be heard, is to be treasured. Be kind to others and yourself. Have faith that God will do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Remind yourself that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).
I am so grateful for my life with all of its ups and downs over more than 70 years now. I can see how God has not wasted any experience. Growing up, my family would have been considered ‘poor’, but we were rich! We knew the love of our parents and the example of their faith. They pointed us to the beauty to be found in helping others, in offering kindness, and in God’s creation: the ocean, sunsets, nature, and flowers. And they taught us to balance the scales of life with laughter and enjoyment.
When life throws you a curve ball, after the initial reaction, choose to respond with thankfulness. Count your blessings. Bake a cake. Start a gratitude list. Look for the rainbows of God’s faithfulness in the storms of life.
And always—in all ways—give thanks for every thing.