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This weekend I went on a women’s retreat and the theme was “Grateful Sisters.” In one of the break out sessions, the question was asked of everyone “Are you grateful?” Many of the ladies quickly responded as anticipated, “Yes! I’m very grateful for everything God has done for me!”
Then the question was asked “Are you still as grateful in the tough times?” The room instantly became quiet as we all took the time to really think about that question. After a few moments, one woman sitting in the corner softly whispered, “Well, no.”
If we’re honest with ourselves, gratitude doesn’t always come naturally to us, particularly when we experience tough times. When a loved one is diagnosed with an incurable disease, our first response is not “Thank you Lord.” When you experience challenges on your job, you don’t say, “Yes Lord! Make it harder!”
Our natural response is to ask questions but the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” When we’re facing tough times, this command seems unrealistic because we live in a society where it is totally acceptable to simply act on the basis of how we feel. However, when we learn to focus on our God and not on our problems, we not only honor our God but we strengthen our faith in the midst of what we face. It is then that we are able to redirect our focus from telling God we have a big PROBLEM, to telling our problem we have a BIGGER GOD!!
I was told that the healthiest human emotion is not love but gratitude because if we learn how to be thankful in the valley, imagine the magnitude of our celebration on the mountain top.” Gratitude is the best attitude that takes us to the next altitude!
-Crystal Denkins
