In The Living Room today, we discuss the valley of tears in Psalms 84. We, as abiders in Jesus Christ, are equipped to face our devastations with hope in an all powerful, faithful, loving Father. Therefore, we can be thankful in the midst of our valleys, knowing God has a plan. This blog post is in conjunction with today’s podcast our sixth in our fall series titled: Living in God’s Abundance.
Stop by the Living room today, get comfortable, grab something hot to drink and take a listen to Finding Strength and Gratitude in the Valley of Tears.
I’ll meet you on the sofa. 🥰 ☕️
It’s Thanksgiving Time:
I thought about something today…I remembered it’s November—the month we recognize thankfulness. The month of November blows in, just as October flies past. I don’t know about you, but I feel the need to stop the madness on all that’s vying for my attention this month. I want to savor this month (not rush past it), by seeping my soul into a cup of grateful. Seeping allows the time for thankfulness to permeate and turn all that bitterness into sweetness, that anger into joy, that unforgiveness into humility, that self-pity into serving.
There’s a reason God tells us in His Word. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV). He doesn’t instruct us to only give thanks when times are good. He tells us to always give thanks. For my season, it means being thankful for health issues. What? Yes, you heard that right. For you, it may be expressing thankfulness for financial hardships. Whatever it may be, try giving thanks for it.
I believe this practice is comparable to when God tells us to pray for our enemies. When you start obediently forcing a prayer through a clenched jaw, something miraculous happens… they stop being your enemy. Your prayers become looser, and God releases you from the bondage of hate.
The same can be true in practicing thankfulness in all things. That thing you see as your debilitation—God transforms into your strength.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”
James 1:2-4 (ESV).
Faith and Fruit Can Grow in the Valleys:
I’ve realized that my faith has grown more in the dark places than in the light. In the valleys, I tend to strain to see the light in the situation, to stretch myself towards the Father, to pray fervently for direction and wisdom; and He, being the faithful God He is, leans towards me too.
He receives all things we’re willing to surrender, and that lump of mud we detest; only He can make a beautiful vessel with it.
But I believe it all starts with gratitude for the sticky mud.
Instead of always praying for a release from our burdens, sorrows, and trials, let’s show our faith in God’s love, mercy, and power by thanking Him ahead of time for what He’s going to create from it.
Let’s challenge ourselves all this month is to spend time being thankful for all things, especially those that seem unworthy of praise.
Father God, help us to be thankful in all circumstances and to seek your will as we trust in your power, love, and ability to redeem all things. Through Jesus, Amen.
May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving. 🦃 🙏🏻
For another podcast on gratefulness, join life-long friends Liz Hammond and Tammy Carter Adams on the sofa as they discuss All About Gratefulness.
photo credit: Istock:g-stockstudio/619048026
