I think we all know that gratitude is a healthy emotion and that the happiest people are the ones who are the most grateful.

In my last post I wrote about the transformation that occurs when an aspect of God’s truth finally weaves its way into my heart through this lifelong process of the work the Holy Spirit does when we begin to change the way we think according to the illumination of God’s word. His truth begins to change us from the inside out once it’s written on our hearts. For me, this process tends to occur either by practical, conscious application of what I’m learning, or through personal life lessons (otherwise known as hard knocks).

I mentioned that one area God seems to be working on in me at this point in my life is by showing me how much I tend to grumble and complain. As my husband can attest, I complain about the little things (my knees hurt, my dog’s too needy, there’s not enough hours in the day) and I complain about the bigger things.  My eyes have been opened to the fact that even the smallest amount of complaining can taint or poison my attitude, my conversations, and my influence upon others, so I have really been trying to prayerfully and intentionally change the way I think–and thus the way I speak–even when I’m alone and talking to myself! As a result, I started feeling happier and freer within.

That is until last week.

Until Paris.

And ever since then, I admit, I’ve really struggled with practicing gratitude. I became really hung up on the verse in the Bible that says we are to give thanks in all things, in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). Really, Lord? All things? I spent a lot of time thinking about my own personal struggles, and the struggles and losses of so many I know. I thought about how easy it is to trust and be thankful when things are going well, or when we’ve come out of a period of hardship and can look back and see how everything worked out, or how at least see some good came from a past painful period or trial. Thinking about these things this past week knocked me on my you-know-what, and I became despondent over the fact that my personal growth in this area of gratitude and thanksgiving was unraveling. I talked to God about all of this—my confusion, my fears, my lack of faith. I asked Him how was I to offer thanks in the midst of tragedy? How could my thanksgiving be sincere if I was afraid? I didn’t want to just go through the motions and offer lip service.

It’s at times like this that I have to stop, grab the Word of God, and allow it to refocus my thinking on Him and to try to see the bigger picture from His vantage point. Without fail I get the fortification, hope, and perspective I need. In response to my questions, He showed me how and why I can give thanks no matter what’s going on around me or within me—and it’s because I know Him. I was reminded that it’s not my circumstances that define my happiness; it’s so much more. He wants me to learn how to be happy and content, as have countless other believers down through the ages, in spite of outward circumstances.

God is so good to me, and so personal, and His word is so alive. This is what I love about Him, and this is how my relationship with Him plays out, time and again. After honestly pouring out my heart, complaining to him about all of the above, and telling Him I didn’t see how I could offer thanks or gratitude, I opened the Bible and picked up reading in the Psalms where I had left off a few days before. I read these words in Psalm 138:2:

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

He showed me! In my heart these words of Scripture instructed me on how to give thanks—I was to start by thanking Him for His steadfast love and for His faithfulness. I could do that!

And there’s even more! He’s promised to never leave me. He’s promised to finish what He’s started in me. He’s promised that when I stumble, He’ll lift me back up. He’s promised that He’s working everything together for my good because He loves me. He’s promised to one day wipe every tear from my eyes. He’s promised that no eye has seen or mind understood what He’s prepared for us! My finite mind can only grasp with a sliver of understanding what’s in store those of us who have placed our trust in Him. It all will work out in the end. The Bible is filled with promise after promise after promise, and I know that He who has promised is faithful. After all, it’s our theme verse here at Holding Fast Now:

So that by two unchangeable things (God’s promise and His oath), in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us (Hebrews 6:18).

Transformation–from the inside out. By the truth of God’s word, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I felt renewed. I could, and can, give thanks. He is teaching me how to thank Him for the blessings in my life (there are many), and He is teaching me how to thank Him in spite of the challenges in my life (past, present and future). I learned this lesson–and will no doubt need to learn it again–by being reminded that my happiness is not dependent upon my circumstances or what I think would make me happy or what I feel I’m entitled to.

I heard a lesson lately that aptly describes two mindsets. It’s based upon the two thieves hanging on each side of Jesus as He hung on the cross:

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

A pastor by the name of Ronnie Martin sheds this further insight. The first criminal wanted Jesus to use His divine power to save him and get him off of the cross so he could go back to doing what he wanted to do—he only saw Jesus as a means to his own ends. This thief wanted to be saved from the cross, not realizing that the cross was the only thing that would save him from himself, and God. The second criminal knew he deserved death–he was after all guilty of his crime. His greatest need wasn’t to be saved from the cross, but to be saved by the cross. He wanted to be remembered by Jesus, and Jesus promised He would not only remember him, but promised that he—the thief—would be with Him for all eternity.

Like the first thief, when we feel entitled, we complain.  When things don’t go our own way, we rail. The second thief, knowing his time was short, had the eternal perspective. He got it. He sought a relationship with Jesus Christ over getting his own, immediate needs met.

Back to the events that happened in Paris, which in my mind are a game changer for the West, I have to remember that none of this has caught God off guard or by surprise. It’s no accident that we are here, in 2015, living in our respective neighborhoods, towns, states and countries, with our own particular sets of blessings and challenges.

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:26-27)

When I grumble and complain—over large things or small—I’m basically telling God He doesn’t know what He’s doing and that I know best.  My lack of gratitude or thanksgiving reveals a lack of faith, whereas my gratitude to God can be the highest expression of my faith, especially in these uncertain times.

As we’ve written many times on this blog, God has a plan. It’s unfolding. At times it might frighten us and our faith may wax and wane. My main desire and goal is to be an encourager, pointing others to Him–the source of all compassion and comfort. But before I can do that, my head knowledge has to become heart knowledge. My faith needs to be authentic. He has to teach me before I can teach others, namely my children and grandchildren, that despite our circumstances, we can know true joy, happiness, and peace through our relationship with God. I am thankful for these life lessons on how to become a person of gratitude.

Holding fast,

Lisa

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name (Psalm 103:1).

 

^{Photography by Cecil Vedemil}