How can you live gratefully in any real sense of the word? How do you not become resigned to your less-than-ideal life circumstances, but actually grow closer to God through them? These were the real-life questions that faced Allison after unexpectedly losing her infant son. Yet in the midst of these challenges, Allison discovered the lifeline that became her soul’s anchor—giving God thanks. She hopes to share this same salve for other weary souls walking through their own less-than-ideal realities, whether from the inconveniences and frustrations of the everyday to the really hard, heavy seasons of life. It’s a joy to welcome Allison to the farm’s table today…
Guest post by Allison Brost
I woke up early this morning to the news that a dear friend had welcomed a brand-new baby during the night.
It was an announcement made even more precious by the fact that I had been witness to all that had come before—years of miscarriages, one after another, without any foreseeable end in sight.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
We’d cried together, prayed together, shared meals and long afternoon chats, all the while wondering if there ever would be a healthy baby at the end of it all. And now, to be standing in the fulfillment of those dreams? It was hard to imagine anything sweeter.
I promptly sent back a text bursting with excitement, practically oozing with joy over the new baby and my thanks for a speedy delivery. At the very end, I finished by declaring, “Praise the Lord!” With an exclamation point, of course.
As I pressed send, I was reminded of the words of Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I couldn’t think of a more fitting verse for the occasion.
Only a few short weeks before our pastor had read those same words at the tail end of a Sunday service. Except back then? Well… those words hadn’t felt so fitting.
“Growing gratefully begins by actively choosing to take God at his word and believe in its truth for our lives.“
You see, just the night before, it had snowed. Again. And this wasn’t December or January or even February. It was straight up April… and still snowing. The snow continued to fall as I ached for sunshine and the chance to start my garden. Or to do anything that didn’t involve bundling up in the protective layers of winter hat, boots and jacket.
As I stood in church hearing this reminder to rejoice, I felt a bit like a wayward child being reprimanded for my lack of spiritual gratitude. It’s natural to rejoice on days that stream with sunshine, bring news of brand new babies and serve up situations that make sense… But how could I find joy on the other days? How could I give thanks in the middle of unending miscarriages and busted-up relationships and weather conditions that didn’t seem to take any cues from the calendar?
But take note of a key word in verse 24: “Let us…” Those two words are such a sweet salve to my weary soul. Growing in gratefulness isn’t something we sum up in our own strength or try to will-power our way through. Growing gratefully begins by actively choosing to take God at his word and believe in its truth for our lives.
“But expressing gratitude—giving God thanks—is one of the surest ways we can align our lives with his promises. Gratitude means choosing to accept what God says about our circumstances and staking our lives on his promises.“
Friend, I want you to grasp this truth because I believe it holds such freedom for our everyday lives. Gratefulness is simply a gift God wants us to receive.
What do I mean by that? I mean that giving thanks allows us to see what is, in fact, true.
When we’re steeped in our circumstances, it can be easy for our minds to wander from God’s truth. But expressing gratitude—giving God thanks—is one of the surest ways we can align our lives with his promises. Gratitude means choosing to accept what God says about our circumstances and staking our lives on his promises. It’s an opportunity to give our faith footsteps and live in accordance with God’s unchanging nature.
This means in the middle of the everyday and ordinary moments of our lives we give thanks, acknowledging that God is as much present in the small parts of our day as the remainder of our lives. It means when we’re faced with the frustrations or inconveniences of our fallen world we choose to thank him anyways, trusting that God is still good in our imperfections as well as our accomplishments. And when we’re facing the truly hard, heavy things of life we still choose thanksgiving, trusting that we truly do have a God who is working every bit of our lives together for good.
“Gratefulness is simply accepting what God says—about us and about himself—and stepping forward into the blessed assurance of a life lived in him.“
The call to give thanks doesn’t need to trigger feelings of failure or condemnation—instead it can serve as a beacon back towards what is sure and unchanging. Gratefulness is simply accepting what God says—about us and about himself—and stepping forward into the blessed assurance of a life lived in him.
God’s promises aren’t conditional, so neither should be our gratitude.
God’s sovereignty isn’t changeable, so neither should be our thankfulness.
God’s character isn’t circumstantial, so neither should be our ability to rejoice and be glad no matter what situations we may be facing.
Giving thanks isn’t a burden, it’s a blessed reminder of the unshakeable truths of our God. May we open it up and receive it.
Allison Brost loves to share daily encouragement at her blog “This Side of Perfect” to spread the hope and healing she’s found in Jesus through her own hard times. She wrote Grateful: 30 Days of Growing in Thanksgiving as a hope-filled manifesto in the middle of the griefs of everyday life—from the ordinary frustrations and inconveniences of the day-to-day to the truly difficult, disappointing seasons of life. Like sitting side-by-side with a dear friend, Allison gently guides you through the day-by-day journey of growing grateful with the grace-filled tone of someone who’s truly been there. In Grateful, Allison invites you into the joy-filled journey of humble surrender, contentment, and faith-fueled praise as you unwrap the beautiful promises God has granted every believer. Through every page you will find your heart continually directed back to the hope and healing of truly taking God at his word through the faith-building act of giving him thanks.
{Our humble thanks to The Good Book Company for their partnership in today’s devotional.}
