I’ve always wished that my life was perfect, pain-free, and easy.
But that’s never guaranteed when you are Christian.
God says that the path He calls us to walk is narrow, not wide.
It’s not a path that many people will choose because it’s hard.
It’s a path that leads you through valleys and storms.
It’s a path that includes dying to your own self and being different from the world.
It’s a path where you learn to grow in Christ daily and that doesn’t come without pruning, breaking, and pain.
November is the month everyone likes to make a list of things they are thankful for.
And we always include everything that is good.
The food on our tables and roofs over our heads.
Our families and friends.
The daily gifts God gives us from above.
And those are all things we should always be thankful for.
But that’s not the only thing we should add onto our list.
It is rare to find someone take time to be thankful for the “not-so-happy” things in life.
But the truth is it those things that we should be just as thankful for because more than the good times, more than the answered prayers, more than the breakthroughs it is the hard things in life that shape us, strengthen us, and form us into who Christ wants us to be.
“But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” -Romans 5:35
So today I want to challenge all of us to do something different.
Let’s take time to be thankful for those things that are hard.
Let’s find gratitude in our hearts not just for the good, but also for what may seem like it’s bad at the moment.
Let’s find a reason to rejoice not just when the sun is shining in our lives, but when it’s raining.
I will begin…(and you are more than welcome to add some of yours below).
I am thankful for storms in my life that left me shaken, shattered, and hopeless because they brought me to my knees and helped me find my strength to go on in Christ alone.
I am thankful for prayers that were not answered and plans that didn’t work out the way I hoped because they remind me that God’s sovereign will always prevails over my own and in the end it is always so much better than what I ever would have come up with.
I am thankful for people that have failed me, let me down, and walked out of my life because they remind me that God will never fail me, He will never disappoint me, and He will never leave my side.
I am thankful for dark, hopeless days where I’d find myself sitting in front of a dead end because in those moments God always showed me that dead end’s are the perfect place for new beginnings with Him.
I am thankful for hardships in life that left me lying face down on the ground after I tried and failed because it was one more chance for me to learn to get back up again. One more chance to press forward. One more chance to lean on God and never give up.
I am thankful for dreams that take too long to come true because I know it is during my time of waiting that God is preparing my heart for what is to come and He never allows anything to come to soon or too late.
I am thankful for people who reject me in some way or another or don’t see my worth because it helps me find my identity not in anyone or anything, but in Christ alone.
I am thankful for opportunities that seemed to pass me by because they helped build my faith as I trust for something better to come along.
I am thankful that there is not a single storm, a single giant, a single valley, and a single trial that I have to walk without God.
I am thankful that after going through a hardship I come out much stronger, and braver, and more Christ-like than when I first came in.
Yes, I want many blessings from above.
I want the sun to shine and the birds to sing.
But even more than an easy life, I want to live a life worthy of the call Christ has for me.
And that life will guarantee that I will walk through more trials that I don’t want to walk through.
That I’ll deal with more giants that I’d rather not face.
That there will be more storms on my horizon.
And I am learning to be okay with that.
Because some of the greatest blessing in my life have come through the most trying times.
Some of my greatest growth with God took place during my hardest moments.
And if becoming closer to God means taking the narrow road that leads through hardships then that is the way I will choose to go.
I would rather have a hard life with Jesus than an easy and empty one without Him.
What are you thankful for today?
Be blessed and never forget to count your blessings this month and always! –Anna… ♥
Dear beloved God, thank You so much for all those hard times…had it not been for that my life would not have been as beautiful as it is now…the long wait has been worth it! And thank You so much also for the faith and trust that i now have that YOU always Know and GIVE whats best!Hi Anna…be happy!
That is such a beautiful prayer Samina. It brings so much peace to praise God in the midst of and for our troubles knowing that He is with us right in the middle of them. May He bless you and continue to fill your heart with joy as you worship Him in all that you do. Be blessed!
Anna…..
You hit the nail on the head! It’s in the hard times that we grow the most. It’s hard to see it during the storm but the truth is, Storms make us stronger! We thank God for the good times, the times of blessing but we also thank Him for the times of testing. I like what you said,
I am thankful for dark, hopeless days where I’d find myself sitting in front of a dead end because in those moments God always showed me that dead end’s are the perfect place for new beginnings with Him.
So so true Anna!
As I look back at my life I see the times I grew the most was in the hard times! If I had a choice to relive my past and make changes to it I wouldn’t because it’s throught those hard hard times I found God! It’s though those times of testing that I saw His faithfulness and love. It’s through those times of pain that I saw His love and His heart! It’s in those times I realised He would never leave me!
Have a great weekend Anna!
Rolain
So true Rolain. Sometimes I think I never want to face one more problem in my life but I know they are needed and necessary for my growth in Christ, and when I do go through storms I know it’s not because God is punishing me for some reason but because He thinks I’m ready to learn my next lesson and to continue trusting in Him. Once your perspective on trials changes it becomes so much easier to face them!
I think your point was so valid when you said, “God gives us tests or allows them because He thinks we are ready for the next lesson! I will keep that in mind……bless you Anna!
This is absolutely so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Trials and hard times are part of the abundant life He came to gives us. When we realize that then we can soar like eagles through His strength, no matter what life brings. Again, thanks for sharing your heart.
Thanks Michelle! Yes, trials aren’t fun but it is through them that we become strong. Even when it seems like too much for us to handle God is always faithful in coming through and showing us that nothing is impossible for Him no matter how big the issue seems! I’m so thankful that we have Him to lean on during our hardest moments in life. We can face anything with Him by our side!
Amen! I am thankful that God is teaching me that I can not and will not please everyone – it’s a great reminder that the only person I should strive to please is Him.
Thank you for this great encouragement and reminder, Anna! It can be so hard to find the good it the things that seem to be so bad.
Hi Megan, the amazing thing about walking with God is that we can know without a doubt that everything happens for a reason, especially those hard things that leave us with questions. He will always work things out for our good if we trust Him! I hope you have a blessed week! 🙂
I thank God for all the hard, difficult and painful times God has allowed into my life because they made me seek shelter under His wings and caused me to lean against His side and taught me that I am nothing in myself and He is everything! Thank you this is a great article.
Well done. Such a great reminder that our hardships, which cause pain & suffering only bring us closer to Him! Needed this.
Thanks Taylor! It is usually the least comfortable or pleasant times in our lives that produce the most fruit and growth with Christ!
So needed to hear that one… thanks for sharing.. loved it!
In other words:
‘In Everything give thanks.’
Easier said than done, but still true!
😉
Yes, I agree. But it’s worth the effort to try!
This was exactly what I needed today! Thank you for your beautiful and encouraging words.
That’s great Ali! I hope you have a blessed week!
I love your blogs: you explore things many are too afraid to say. Maybe you would like my blog too? It’s new so I only have a few post but I would really love to have a follower like you. And maybe you could share it with some friends or something. Thanks keep up the great writing!
My blog is hurtingwithnohope.wordpress.com.
Thank you! I will make sure to check your blog out. Have a blessed week! 🙂
Great post Anna! One thing I’d like to mention: I have been getting posts delivered to my inbox and whenever I click to read more it says those posts are not available. They are not on your website. Do you know what might be causing this?
Thank you Hannah! Hmmm… that’s really odd. I think you’re the second person who’s told me that :/ I’m not sure what’s happening, but I’ll check it out. Thanks for letting me know! (hopefully it won’t happen again!)
This was all so true and timely. I am thankful that God allows us to choose for ourselves. There have been times my choices were sinful, rebellious, and stupid but God permitted me to make them, released me to experience the consequences of those choices and then used them to shape my character and teach me a lesson about myself and Him.
I’m glad it was a timely post for you! It’s so amazing to know that God can redeem everything in our life that we’ve experienced and been through and use it to help us grow even more in Him. Nothing goes to waste, not even our mistakes or hardships, when we place them in God’s hands!
Reblogged this on Growing In Grace and commented:
I was in the middle of writing on this same subject when this piece popped up in my feed. I put the pen down, because it cannot be said better than this.
As we heed into the week of Thanksgiving, this is an absolute must read!
“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness.
– Lamentations 3:20-23
“I would rather have a hard life with Jesus than an easy and empty one without Him.”
I have been thinking about this a lot lately…and your words made it perfectly clear to me that I need to keep walking and having faith in Him, even and especially when things are not easy! Thank you Anna!
God tells us very clearly Anna that He does not willingly afflict us ( see below) but He does work all things out for good in our lives even suffering and this is why we give thanks, it’s not for the suffering and hardship which causes many to blame God and fall away from following Him when the going gets rough believing He causes it.
God is not a Sadist wanting us to be Masochists and so be Happy Clappy for the pain we endure, but we do give thanks that regardless of what we endure He is with us in it and strengthens us so we can endure. Life brings hard times, others hurt us, accidents happen, we reap the evil we sow but God does not afflict us, yes He disciplines us but does not cause our suffering as shown with the Prodigal son but Wow when we come to our senses and repent what a welcome Home.
Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Christian Love in Christ Jesus – Anne.
I meant to include Anna what is meant by glory in our Tribulations as we see in Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.(KJV)
The Tribulation that is mentioned is not about being Afflicted by God and suffering, He does not do this, it is in reference to how we are persecuted for standing up for Him and following Jesus. God molds and shapes us through the Fruit of The Holy Spirit as He empowers us after we choose good and reject evil by putting our flesh to death.,
Luke 6:21-23 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for Joy: for, behold, your reward is great in Heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets.
Luke 21:16-18 And ye shall be betrayed both by Parents, and brethren, and Kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
John 15:17-19 These things I command you, that ye Love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
Blessings – Anne.