I was not feeling very thankful as I spent several sleepless nights with my newborn earlier this year. I was convinced I was the only person in the world awake at times enduring such a struggle. I found myself very discouraged; this was supposed to be a joyful time. I decided to write down Bible verses and prayers on several post-it notes. I placed these post-it notes all over my daughter’s room as a constant reminder to remain steadfast through this short trial. Crazy enough, that sweet baby decided to start sleeping much better within days. Thank you, Jesus!
The difficult seasons provide a clear opportunity to draw closer to the Lord. I’ve found this to be true when I take the time to reflect on my life and what has shaped me as a Christian. Sometimes it takes a season of trial to produce an obvious need for the Lord. A need for the Lord can be found anywhere at any time. If you already follow Jesus, then the difficult seasons can produce fruits of the spirit and steadfastness of faith. We all need Jesus for our hard circumstances. I am thankful for a God that is present and faithful through all seasons of life.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
I decorate sugar cookies. You know, the ones with the pretty icing and the neat designs. This past summer, I had a cookie order due and for whatever reason my icing would not set correctly. I decorated the cookies like I usually did, I waited for the icing to set, and it just wasn’t happening.
You see, usually the icing is smooth and shiny. Crunchy, but not too hard. The icing in front of me was messy, bumpy, and it was not cooperating.
Hold on, y’all, there’s a point to this story.
The order was due two days later, so I had a little bit of time to make it right. I decided to scrape the icing off the cookies. I made new icing and tried it again.
Again, the icing didn’t turn out. It was messy… the cookies were looking flat out ugly. As I scraped the icing off for the second time, the Lord spoke to me. It took my breath away.
I scraped all that ugly icing off the sugar cookie, and it was a clean slate. All of the ugly was gone. Just like the Lord does with us…. He takes all of our ugly and washes it away. We have a new slate.
Every single time we fail him, He forgives our sins. He scrapes all the ugly away. Every. Single. Time.
At the time I was very frustrated that my icing wasn’t cooperating, but the lesson was worth it. How blessed we are to serve a God who is faithful and just to forgive our sins time and time again! Give God your ugly, messy, or imperfect slate—He’ll wipe it clean.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
When my mother passed away four years ago, friends and family enveloped my sisters and me with a love that can only be described as “of God”.
Without that love we would not have made it through the darkest days we had ever encountered.
One friend in particular, wrote a scripture and encouraging yet sympathetic note on a simple index card and gave it to me the day of Mom’s funeral.
Four years later, that index card is still taped to my dresser. A daily reminder of the kindness and love that only God can give. A daily reminder of how important words are. A daily reminder that humans need other humans to make it through whatever life throws at them.
I said all of that to say this: is God nudging you to send someone an encouraging word today?
Do it.
It doesn’t have to be long.
It doesn’t have to be fancy.
It just has to be prayerfully penned.
Write the note. Someone needs it. 💛
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The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
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The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Do we know the power our thankfulness holds? Truly?
The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is a beautiful example.
I don’t know if you’ve ever been responsible for feeding thousands of men, women, and children who were hungry, but I can only imagine the amount of resources it would take to accomplish the task. Jesus and the disciples were presented with five loaves and two small fish as the only source of food to be found amongst the crowd, and their reactions were stark in contrast. The disciples said, “This is all we have! What are we supposed to do?!” (Luke 9:13-14 paraphrased) I have to be honest, I’d be in panic mode just like they were, because that amount of food wouldn’t feed my family of five let alone five thousand. However, it’s not the heart of the disciples we are aiming for…It’s Christ’s.
What did Jesus do when presented with an overwhelming need that he could have allowed to consume him? He gave thanks for what was provided. He could have responded the same way his disciples did. He was human after all. But, He didn’t. What did Heaven do in response to His thanks?
The Father blessed and multiplied the loaves and fish! The disciples saw and focused on the lack of their ability to successfully provide a meal for everyone there that day. And while Jesus saw the same thing, He knew the Father could do much with little. He didn’t focus on the little they had but rather what He knew the Father could do with it, and He was thankful. His thankfulness was the key that unlocked the door to the miracle that happened that day.
When we are thankful for what we hold and have trust for what HE holds, there’s no limit to what we will BEHOLD.
We all go through hard things. We hate going through them. We question why we have to go through them. And it stinks for a long time. I think that long time is called time on earth.
Because there is rejoicing in Heaven. Oh how I can’t wait to be there rejoicing.
But, in the mean time, we have to be thankful for the cross because even Jesus did not despise the cross. The thing that killed Him. He saw what was on the other side.
I think we have to do the same.
We have to look to the other side.
Tough times are gonna come, if they haven’t already, but we have a hope that is greater than our pain. We have Jesus.
In that hard day, look to the other side. See the joy waiting for you when you get out. See the smile on your loved ones when you finally arrive.
I think of the Angels in Heaven praising our God for every day He gave us. I think of my family in Heaven thanking God for the miracles He made in their lives. And I think of Jesus, waiting to come back to us.
Take hope today, there is good ahead. There is another side to this pain you simply can’t see yet. And there is Jesus.
Think of how a sunflower constantly follows the sun. Where the sun goes, so does the sunflower. Because it knows the sun will provide what the sunflower needs.
So follow Jesus, He has what you need. He knows what’s ahead.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”
I Peter 1:6-9
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
II Corinthians 4:16-18
During November, people reflect on what they are thankful for. When Daisy asked me to write this month, I began to pray that God would lead me to a super uplifting post of thanksgiving. I have to chuckle because in true God fashion, He directed me in a way that I was not going. After a few days of praying, God gently reminded me to be thankful for the difficulties. In our seasons of thankfulness, we should be thanking Him for the trials, the difficulties, the sufferings. Ouch! Those are not things we consider in our time of thanksgiving. Have you stopped to thank God for those?
The trials are just that-trials. They are hard. They get us down. The past several weeks have been difficult for me. Yet, God says to be thankful for these times. He is working out a perfect plan that is eternal. These times are building and strengthening me to become what He wants me to be. I have to remind myself to stay focused. I have been through far greater difficulties in life than these recent weeks. During those times, my father reminded me to “not miss what God has for me in the difficulties”. When I go through hardships, I try to remember those words. You see, God’s plans are incredibly beautiful, even in the sufferings, the trials, the difficulties. When we are thankful in and for the afflictions, we are allowing God to do His beautiful work in us.
As we consider the hard times, instead of focusing on the pain, let us focus on what God is doing through the pain. James 1:2-4 tells us that we should “count it all joy when you fall into various trials”. The reason we can count the trials as joy is because God is doing a work of perfection in us. He is wanting us to “be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. Part of that work is accomplished through trials. During this season of thanksgiving, let’s not forget to be thankful for the hard times. God is working out a glorious masterpiece!
“O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful.”
Psalm 89:8 (NLT)
Since about August 1st I have been in a funk, and it culminated in a full blown temper tantrum a couple of weeks ago. Everything about my emotions was out of control. Ugh.
The week after my meltdown I went to our ladies intercessory prayer time that we have on Wednesdays. It is always life giving for me, and this particular time was life changing. We always start with people praying and giving thanks.
My sweet friend Michele Harris prayed a prayer about something the Lord had laid on her heart that morning; giving thanks for the small things. She was expressing thanks for having choices about what clothes to wear or food to pack for lunch. It hit me so hard. I knew it was for me and that the Lord was encouraging me in that moment.
I am so thankful that God has surrounded me with people who press in and hear His voice. I am so thankful for the life I have, and even though I failed miserable for a time Jesus was still faithful. He was the good shepherd who brought me to green pastures and told me to lie down. He reminded me to think about Him, how He is in control and that I can rest in that.
I am so thankful that in the midst of crazy, chaotic times I serve a God who is not phased by any of it and is the answer to all of it. ❤️
“Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.”
Psalms 97:12
This time of year is a season where we will be reflecting on the past year and all that we are thankful for as well as looking ahead to what the next could hold. It’s a great time to do exactly as this verse states: give thanks at remembrance. In the past month, I’ve noticed God cultivating in me a heart of thankfulness through reflection.
I’ve reflected on how He has brought along desires and answered prayers; gratitude and awe fills my heart. Hope that seemed deferred has been fulfilled and it’s a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12) to my faith, a thing I can continually point to as reference of His sovereignty and faithfulness.
Thank you, Jesus!
I’ve reflected on healing — the difference of where I was just a year ago versus today. The way the hope I thought was gone forever has been re-established. Faith restored. He makes us new.
Thank you, Jesus!
I’ve reflected on how I used to be so fearful of things that today I’m doing on the regular. The growth that is evident. The growth that is still happening. He strengthens and establishes.
Thank you, Jesus!
I’ve reflected on His provision; how He always supplies my every need. I could be stressed out and worried one moment and later find He made a way and has worked it out. He is a way maker and a miracle worker.
Thank you, Jesus!
Each notice to His goodness, kindness, and faithfulness creates a song in my heart.
His gentle, steady hand in it all. His timing perfect. Delays used for my good. He has always been so good to me — in everything! The only obvious thing to do is give thanks.
And when I take that moment to let thankfulness be in my heart, it shifts the atmosphere. I may, for a moment, be focused on lack, dwelling on past hurts, worried, or fearful but then He brings something to my remembrance of how far we’ve come — thanksgiving and praise breaks forth! My mind and my heart then steer toward Him and looks ahead with expectancy for all the ways He will do it again in the future.
I remember His name is Faithful and True (Revelation 3:14, 19:11)!
My hope and encouragement to you all is that you find Him far more faithful and true than you realize this season; that in reflection of this year or even years past your heart can sing a spiritual song to the Lord. A song where you see how all the pieces are fitting together. Especially for those who may have lost their song this past year. May you find that hope deferred, when the desire comes, is a tree of life. That disappointments bring us closer to Him and His good plan for us. That waiting isn’t punishment but preparation. That healing or breakthrough can happen suddenly. That He meets us right where we are. That He works all things for good. That nothing is too hard for Him. That His promises are “yes and amen”. That His timing is perfect. And that He has not forgotten you. The journey and process of His faithfulness varies for us all but the result is the same: THANKFULNESS. Praise. Glory to God. A hallelujah on our lips…and in our hearts.
Reflect upon His past goodness and faithfulness this season, upon all He has done. Let your faith be stirred. Rejoice and give thanks in remembrance to His holy name!
Has anyone else’s life at some point gone from one extreme to the other? Good to bad? Calm to absolute chaos? Rainstorm to hurricane?
No? Just me?
Life is busy – life can be HARD. And your hard may look different than my hard, but it’s still just – hard. Or maybe, just hard days, hard seasons, or hard moments.
When those days or moments hit, it’s easy to lose heart, right? It’s “easier” to focus on the overwhelming, the pain, the troubles, and stresses rather than God’s ultimate goal for our life. We let the chaos of our busy schedules, the “what ifs”, the anxieties, consume us.
My friend, don’t lose heart. Don’t miss every opportunity to take your burdens and heartaches to our perfect COUNSELOR. Placing your focus on the reward for our faith and true joy that is EVERLASTING. Taking your eyes off the troubles, worldly things, sins, and circumstances that are BARELY lasting .
That’s a tough one.
Where is your focus? My focus? Are we enveloped in His Spirit daily remembering that no matter what happens today or in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life? When all suffering ends and all sorrow flees away, are we putting our faith in His everlasting or the world’s barely lasting?
Brothers and sisters, don’t give up. Don’t give in to the “hard” of today’s pain or circumstances and forsake your eternal reward.
Your EVERLASTING.
Our very weakness, our very vulnerability, our very brokenness, allows the absolute power of the resurrection of Christ to strengthen us moment by moment. So LET HIM…. HE won’t fail you. 💛
Being a mother has been my job for the past 5 years. I have gone through many seasons of life with my children, both challenging and rewarding, but nothing hit harder than sending my son to Kindergarten this year.
He would now be spending more time with other people than ever, away from my watchful eye, comfort, and protection. This experience threw me into a time of reflection. I felt the Lord pressing upon my heart several questions:
How will my son respond when he sees behaviors that are not Christ like?
Will he understand the difference in living for Christ vs living for the world?
What can I do better to reiterate the values that we want to instill within him?
Our Church is in a study of Matthew where some of these points were directly addressed by Jesus.
Matthew writes about the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16, ESV
Reflecting on the words of Jesus helped me to understand that my children are bound to be introduced to influences outside of my control, BUT I need to continue to focus on my good works and being intentional in living a Christ-like life, to have the greatest impact on my children’s desire to glorify God.
I want my thoughts, words, and actions to reflect Christ in me to my children. I want them to know that I am critical of anything I give my attention to. I want them to see me in bible study, in prayer, and at church. I want them to look back on their time with me and know that I was walking with the Lord, giving them the confidence to do the same.
Our greatest testimony to our kids can be how we live our lives.
Rays of Sunshine inc 