Two words

I’ve been feeling a bit sorry for myself lately.  People around me have told me that they don’t really blame me.  At first, this was a comfort – it’s not all in my head, this really is happening.  But in the last few days, that comfort has turned into an excuse to bathe myself in pity.

On Friday, that changed.  I made a statement in my post about the campaign at http://stuffchristianslike.net/ to protect people in Uganda from contracting Malaria, and it was like I slapped myself upside the head.  My statement was this:

If you’ve ever been bitten by a mosquito and not gotten Malaria, you’re blessed enough to help someone else.

It occurred to me a little later as I ate lunch that because I had gotten to eat lunch, I’m blessed.  I started looking at other events of my day, and those two words popped into my head over and over again.

• The heat in my house turned on.  I’m blessed.
• I’m reading Andy Stanley’s new book which means I know how to read.  I’m blessed.  (Btw, stay tuned tomorrow for my review…and then go get the book!)
• I have parents, friends and a church family who continue to support me in every way possible.  I’m blessed.

I am blessed.  There have been many days in recent weeks when I’ve felt more that I’m cursed, but Truth will always win, and the truth is, I’m blessed.

And so are you.  No matter where you are right now, no matter how bad today has been (or yesterday, for that matter), you’re blessed.  I know I probably have no idea what you’re going through today, but I know that you’re blessed. Don’t believe me?  2 Peter 1:3 puts it this way:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

See?  God has given us everything we need.  But not just for our benefit.  He does it for His own glory and because He is good.  He has blessed you and me so that our lives will bring Him glory.  He has blessed you and me so that our lives will show His goodness to a broken world. 

That thing in your life that is causing you so much pain/confusion/anxiety?  Perhaps it’s there to amplify God’s blessing in other areas of your life.  Perhaps it’s there to strengthen the relationship you’re blessed to have with Him.  Perhaps it’s there as a gateway to future blessing.  Perhaps it’s there so that one day, you will be able to bless someone else through your expereince.

Knowing this, knowing that as God’s children we are blessed and that everything He does and allows is because He’s good, how can our response continue to be anything other than, “Thank You!”? 

It won’t always be easy to see God’s blessing in our lives.  Tragedies will continue to strike.  Disappointments will continue to plague us.  Pain, sorrow and loss will continue to play a role in our lives.  But the blessed Christian can rob those things of their power.  By reminding ourselves constantly that we are blessed – in every circumstance and at all times – I think we’ll find that life really isn’t all that bad after all. 

And when we’re no longer wasting our energies on feeling sorry for ourselves, we can get out there and be a blessing in someone else’s life.  All for His glory!

In what way have you recently realized God’s blessing in your life?  What’s your suggestion for being a blessing to someone else today?

 

Thanks, but no thanks

When was the last time you were jealous of someone?  For me, it was this morning.  I was reading about people who are going to a convention this weekend and I got jealous that they got to go and I didn’t.  Eventually, my more mature self took charge and asked this question: “If you could go, would you?”  My less mature self thought about that for a few minutes and grudgingly admitted that no, given the opportunity, I wouldn’t go.  “But,” she argued (with a bit of a pout), “I’d like to at least have the option.” 

A few minutes later, after mulling over this “conversation”, I had to admit that I have a coveting problem.  I want what other people have, even if it’s not something I would actually want, given the chance to get it.  (Wow! Have fun dissecting that sentence, English teachers!)  And what is at the heart of my coveting?  Unthankfulness.  (Is that a word?  Well, it is now…) 

Few people have trouble being thankful for the good things in life.  But do we really have to be thankful for the things we don’t like quite so much?  I’m afraid so.  Do a search on the word “thankful” in a concordance and try to find one instance where the Bible says, “Be thankful for everything – except those things you don’t like.”  Let me save you some trouble – you won’t find it.  There are no qualifications or exemptions to true thankfulness.  There are no loopholes, so don’t bother looking.

So what do you do when you find yourself in a less-than-pleasant situation? What do you do when the answer you get to your prayer isn’t the answer you wanted?  Well, be thankful.  Easier said than done, right?  Ok, then let me tell you what I’ve been doing today.  All day long, I’ve been asking God to show me something, anything I can be thankful about with regard to a place I am in that I’d rather not be in. 

All day – “God please show me something to be thankful for here.”  I’m still looking for something, but I’ll be asking the same thing tomorrow, and the next day until something comes to mind.  This is having a surprising effect on me.  While I’m actively looking for things to be thankful about, I’m noticing the negative things about my situation less and less.  Sure, they’re still there and sure, I’m still not happy about them, but they’re having a smaller and smaller impact on me.

I don’t know how I’ll feel about all of this in the morning, but for now, I think I’m taking just one step closer to where God really wants my heart to be.  You can take that step too.  If you’re stuck somewhere you don’t want to be, ask God to change your heart and to show you how He’s blessing you where you are.  I’m pretty sure that’s a request He will honor.

How do you deal with unpleasant situations?  What are you thankful for today?