Even Though
Stirring up Gratitude, Praise, & Joy in Difficult Seasons | A Thanksgiving Devotional
"You still have so much to be grateful for, Janelle." My best friend attempted to encourage me.
Doooo I? I silently scoffed to myself. Although my heart knew it to be true, I didn't want to hear it.
I was in the thick of it, struggling to see the good in what felt like a never-ending season of struggle. That was easy for her to say. She didn't have my struggles as a solo, stay-at-home mom to three children under four, scrapping every day to make ends meet.
Every day, my husband and I seemed to be doing our best to survive these little years and the flailing job market and economy. And then when everything came to a head, we were forced to make some tough decisions. The rug was pulled from underneath us, leaving our family vulnerable and questioning our next steps.
I didn't feel grateful. If anything, I felt cynical. I couldn't see my blessings. All I saw was lack -- what I was lacking financially, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. And I wanted to escape. Escape my life. Escape this season and rid myself of this portion. With so much of my life upended, what did I have to be grateful for?
That's how the enemy works. He highlights our low points and magnifies the negative until the negative is all we see. Just how when looking at a fresh piece of paper made imperfect by a black dot. All we can see is the black dot — the unanswered prayers, the unmet needs or expectations, the imperfections. We don't see the white space —the abundance, the opportunity — all the ways that God is working, even amid disappointment or devastation.
The enemy may not always kill us, but he does try to destroy us by stealing our praise and skewing our perspective until we miss it -- miss all the daily graces, the mundane moments, the unexpected blessings where we see God's faithfulness and provision at work.
The prophet Habakkuk could have missed it. He foreknew the devastation and loss that Judah would soon experience, but rather than trying to escape it, he leaned into it, stirring gratitude, praise, and joy in the midst of chaos and turmoil.
"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT)
Habakkuk's praise and gratitude weren't affected by his circumstances. Rather than ruminating on the loss and ruin, he rejoiced and recounted God's character. Even during severe hardship and the lack of material blessings, his commitment to expressing praise and gratitude didn’t waver.
There will be times when we will be faced with situations that will feel unfair, unbearable, or unimaginable. Times when we are met face-to-face with our weariness and weakness. We can choose to wallow in our devastation, or we can choose to see God's goodness and declare our gratitude, like Habakkuk, by stirring up praise, gratitude, and joy for our blessings regardless of how big or small.
An unexpected check in the mail.
An extended payment arrangement.
A quiet afternoon with the kids.
Quality time with your spouse.
An encouraging note from a friend.
A small prayer answered.
These miniature moments provide massive opportunities to cultivate contentment and stir up gratitude, praise, and joy.
Even though we are burned out...
Even though we are tired...
Even though we are discouraged...
Even though we are weary...
Like Habakkuk, may we know God better and draw into Him nearer, remembering that even though we are experiencing unfavorable circumstances, He is our strength.
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