give thanks: with leah
Thank you so much, Jenny, for having me "visit" your blog today! Since the topic on everyone's mind at this time of year is thankfulness, I thought it might be nice to share what has been on my heart during this lovely time. God has given me so many wonderful opportunities for growth this year and one of the things I'm most thankful for right now is this: The Hard Stuff.
That's right. I'm extremely thankful for the challenges I've faced this year. It has never been clearer to me that God grows us through pain and hardship than in the past few months. When hard times come, it can be very easy to wallow in self-pity, complain, and whine about our circumstances. Instead, though, what if we chose to give thanks for the hard times? Giving thanks through hardship won't magically make the experience any more fun, but it will provide you with a healthier and more positive perspective about life. God knows that through thanksgiving, we can realize that His will is beautiful, perfect, and absolutely what we need, right now.
Tough stuff happens. Health declines. Relationships experience tension. Loved ones pass away. The sinful acts people commit in this world can damage us. Giving thanks through these undesirable opportunities can help us to see things the way God sees them: opportunities to live out extreme faith by giving thanks and trusting Him with our futures and our presents.
So this Thanksgiving, when you sit down with your family and/or friends to celebrate fellowship, community, and mutual love, remember to ponder all those challenges that have come your way in 2013. Instead of groaning and recalling them with sadness, hurt, or resentfulness, acknowledge that by going through them, you have come out a stronger, more beautiful being and that by growing through those experiences, you are one step closer to being the person God created you to be.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Leah
Website | Blog | Twitter | Pinterest
That's right. I'm extremely thankful for the challenges I've faced this year. It has never been clearer to me that God grows us through pain and hardship than in the past few months. When hard times come, it can be very easy to wallow in self-pity, complain, and whine about our circumstances. Instead, though, what if we chose to give thanks for the hard times? Giving thanks through hardship won't magically make the experience any more fun, but it will provide you with a healthier and more positive perspective about life. God knows that through thanksgiving, we can realize that His will is beautiful, perfect, and absolutely what we need, right now.
Tough stuff happens. Health declines. Relationships experience tension. Loved ones pass away. The sinful acts people commit in this world can damage us. Giving thanks through these undesirable opportunities can help us to see things the way God sees them: opportunities to live out extreme faith by giving thanks and trusting Him with our futures and our presents.
So this Thanksgiving, when you sit down with your family and/or friends to celebrate fellowship, community, and mutual love, remember to ponder all those challenges that have come your way in 2013. Instead of groaning and recalling them with sadness, hurt, or resentfulness, acknowledge that by going through them, you have come out a stronger, more beautiful being and that by growing through those experiences, you are one step closer to being the person God created you to be.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Leah
Website | Blog | Twitter | Pinterest