Maybe it is the rapid pace I have kept the past few months.
Maybe it is the culmination of various stresses and pains which seem to be swimming around me.
Maybe it’s just life and this is the way it is.
Whatever the case, for the past few weeks/months, I have been in what feels like a constant battle to maintain an attitude of “thankfulness” in my life. As I have stated in a previous post (CLICK HERE), personal “thankfulness” is an area in life I have been trying to grow in. Today, I have been wrestling with the Bible passage 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. . .
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Rejoice always?!?!?! Give thanks in all things?!?!?! Really?
Recently, my heart has been heavy for many reasons. In keeping with this desire of being thankful in all things, here are three areas which I am choosing to be thankful in and how the Lord has placed thankfulness in my heart in each one of them.
Loneliness – My life in Asia is replete with stretches and bursts of loneliness. Such was the case this morning. It was not anything big, just rather a sense of “man, I’m just tired of feeling lonely”.
I am thankful that in my loneliness of living overseas, God brings in folks to encourage me during my times of need. Today it was in the form of calls from my cousin Curtis (with a potential solution to my color-blindness . . . though it still sounds pretty suspect!) and my friend Ed Graham (just calling to check in on life).
Today, I am drawn to think more about what I do have in this area than what I do not have. I have wonderful friends here in Asia and around the world. I have an incredible family back in America. For this and so much more, even in my loneliness, I am drawn back to thankfulness.
Above all else, I am thankful that loneliness always seems to draw me closer to my Savior and friend, Christ Jesus (click here for more on my processing loneliness).
Broken friendships/relationships – Recently I have been more acutely aware of past relationships which were either abruptly ended or ones that time and distance have just simply eroded with the passing of time. This has been heavy upon my heart.
However, today I am thankful for all these relationships. Even the “bad ones” built me up in specific ways unique to each one. For this, I am honestly thankful. Also, I am thankful that even broken friendships point me towards the ultimate friendship/relationship which will never fail nor sever that of Christ Jesus.
Suffering friends and loved ones – My heart continues to be heavy for my friend, Tracey Clarke, and her husband Craig. Tracey is my friend who has been heroically fighting stage 4 brain cancer for over two years. It’s been a particularly rough last few weeks.
How can I possibly be “thankful” for this? (If you don’t know, please read Let me tell you about my friend, Tracey. . . and her current journey . Please pray for them as you read this.).
I am thankful for Tracey herself and for the fight she continues to wage against this disease. I’m thankful for the incredible example of godliness which Craig has exuded throughout. Both have taught me more about courage, steadfastness, commitment, and faith in this 27 month process than I could have ever imagined possible. Craig calls me often to just process life, but also to talk about vital topics such as Georgia Tech football (as depressing as it is) and funny youtube clips.
I am thankful that even in the suffering of beloved friends like Tracey and Craig there is hope. The suffering of this present age only pushes us towards the joys of the reality of the next one and the beautiful Savior from whom we have life, breath, and being.
For this, I am most thankful on this grey day in the middle of nowhere Asia.
(Related posts; 4 observations on “thankfulness” and 5 things I am thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day)
I am thankful for you and you willingness to share. Your thoughts are so encouraging and prompt me to lift you and others up in prayer. Thank you.
Thanks Jennifer. . . great hearing from you!
I am struck by your statement that “Above all else, I am thankful that loneliness always seems to draw me closer to my Savior and friend, Christ Jesus – which is what I would encourage you to dwell on….been praying on this topic for you 3 times per week sometimes briefly but as faithfully as I can do since you last discussed it.
Marshall, I really, really appreciate this and you praying for me. I continue to learn and grow. Thanks for your part in this!
One of my mentors spoke last night on how Jesus equated praise and strength. Here’s the scripture evidence: “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies,that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2
Jesus quoted this scripture in Matthew 21, but He changed strength to praise. He knows scripture better than anyone so if Jesus said praise and strength are the same, I believe him.
“But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Matthew 21:15-16
Praising and thanking Him for the good in the midst of the rough is for your strength, alone. It reminds YOU how BIG He is and that His promises are sure. It reminds you that He is faithful and trustworthy. Hope this helps and encourages you, John.
Very helpful, Jill, thanks for your thoughts and input here. Much appreciated!
It truly is an act of obedience to choose to be thankful in the midst of hard season and cyclical seasons of loneliness. According to your writing despite the battle, it is great that you are striving to reflect on all the wonderful blessings God has given you and how He uses your hardships to draw you near to Himself.
I few weeks ago I was spending time in Matthew 7:7-11 “v.8 Everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” with a devotional titled “Persistence Rewarded.” In a nut shell…”As much as we hate to admit it, we are never more attuned to God’s voice than when we are in desperate need…that when we look back on our lives we will readily admit that the times of need were the times of flourishing in our relationship with God and if that is so…why would He want to rush that?”
Another quote in the devotional was by Andrew Murray “It is when the answers to prayer does not come…that the trial of faith, more precious than gold, takes place”
The beauty of Mathew 7: 7-11 is that we can always and are encouraged to boldly ask for the Lord for what we think we need or change our circumstances and that He knows and listens. Keep asking. These words really spoke life into me the day that I spent time reflecting on this truth.
I know that I am not there personally to experience the highs and lows of daily life in EA but an observer and by what you share you are doing a great job!
My prayer will be that you continue to “take all things captive to obey christ” with your prayers, thoughts, and attitude.
Tremendous words Ashley. . . everything here! I especially like the Andrew Murray quote you included here (as well as from Matthew).
Thanks for taking the time to share how you are processing this stuff also. Have a great week!
There is a lot of scripture related to being thankful so apparently struggling with non-thankfulness has been a human condition from the very beginning! I tend to struggle with not being thankful when something happens that I don’t like because I end up comparing, the wrong way. An example – I recently had a chunk of tooth break off. This happens periodically because I inherited really stinky teeth. My immediate thought was that somehow my brother found these amazing teeth in our family gene pool (no idea from where because neither of our parents had them). I think – I want those teeth, the ones that never get cavities and don’t break off. Wouldn’t it be better if I would think – I live in a land with good dentists, and I have insurance that helps pay for this, and I have money to pay for the part the insurance doesn’t . . . I have a whole lot to be thankful for.
Great perspective, Melissa, in sharing out of what you do have and not what you don’t. Great input on “being thankful in all things”. Thanks!
Thanks for your honesty and openness. I needed this today, and almost everyday of my life. Praying right now for you! Have a good day!!!!
Thanks Hope. . . you guys are greatly missed over here!
John-thanks for sharing and for being real. That verse is truly challenging. I guess I am still growing in that-to truly be thankful when challenges come or prayers go unanswered. I think about the abundant life Christ wants us to live…guess that is paradoxically, part of the process to get there. Hope you have a good weekend and that you are blessed with a lot of additional calls and emails from people who care for you. Stephanie
Thanks Stephanie. I appreciate your additions here. It’s been a good weekend so far. . . hope the same for you!
I was reminded of one of the lesson points on gratefulness I taught my students, that gratefulness is a condition of the heart, and thus, it is a choice. The fact that you chose to be grateful for the friendship you have in Asia — home away from home — proves that you have given ungratefulness a punch in the face.
Thanks for sharing this. I will continue covering the Clarkes in prayer, from her paintings I can somehow get a glimpse of the faith she has in the Lord. May the Lord make His countenance shine upon them and be gracious to them.
Love the word picture of giving ungratefulness a “punch in the face”!
I appreciate your prayers for the Clarkes. It’s been a rough weekend for them.
Thanks!
Followed the link you posted on Facebook and read the update Craig wrote. He writes about being thankful and grateful during this most difficult time. He writes about God’s provision. What an amazing testimony! Praying that they continue to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.
Thanks! Yeah, they are incredible people. Craig and I talked last night. It’s been a difficult weekend. Please keep praying!
I’m thankful for you, and thankful for the fact that I can confidently refer young men to your blog and say “look at this guy, he is not perfect but man he has laid down his life for the Lord. His words will encourage you and set a different standard for following Christ.” Thanks for all the laughs and reminders you give. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Thanks for being my brother across the world, and I hope we’ll real-life-meet one of these days.
Sindy, thanks a ton for your encouragement here. I really so sincerely appreciate your involvement in this blog and our cyber friendship. I also look forward to sitting down to coffee with you one of these days (that is of course unless you decide to go cold-turkey from your current addiction!).
Thanks again and have a great week!