Thankful - In Good Times and Bad

"I have a lesion on my kidney. The doctors are running more tests today. Please pray for me."

"My friend's 2-year-old daughter has just been diagonsed with a malignant brain tumor. Please pray for them."

These are words I've heard this week from friends. Difficult circumstances. Uncertain times. Anxious moments.

How do we continue to be thankful during hard times? I must admit there have been times this past year that I haven't felt thankful.

I wasn't thankful when my husband lost his job. I wasn't thankful when I learned we had to re-locate for a new job. (although I was thankful for the job!). And I have struggled to be thankful in a new town when three of our children now live four hours away.

But God tells us to be thankful in all things. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thess 5:16-18

Did you notice the Scripture says to pray continually before we can give thanks? I think that's the key - stay in an attitude of prayer.

A devotional I read this week by Dr. Fred Lowery said, "The Bible says, 'Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.' Only when you've spent time in God's presence and drawn strength from him, will you be equal to the challenges you face on any given day."

Only when we've allowed God to penetrate our heart and our mind can we be thankful when our circumstances don't appear worthy of thanksgiving.

So, what are you thankful for today? I'm thankful for a new writing opportunity God gave me that resulted in my first e-book! The e-book, Thriving at the Holidays: A Stepparent's Guide to Success," is currently available on Amazon and will be available on Apple and Barnes and Nobles shortly.

I hope you'll check it out and tell me what you think.

Are you feeling thankful today? Will you share with us what you're thankful for? 

Related Posts:

Being Thankful for Stepchildren

Count Your Blessings