Ah, my friends. I have been struggling.
Struggling with 'getting it right' at work.
Struggling with my attention challenged boys at home.
Struggling with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
Monday night I cried myself to sleep. And that was a good thing. I had been holding back the tears for too long, and they had to come out.
In spite of the head ache and puffy eyes Tuesday morning, I really did feel better; physically. As in, I didn't feel as though my eyes were about to burst with tears anymore. I told my husband, "I think it's all out!"
But there was still the emotional/spiritual side of things to deal with, and God took me there in His good time.
One of my co-workers tried to convince me that I need to learn to 'love what you hate.' She did a pretty good sales job, but I wasn't in the buying mood. However, she did get me to think about finding reasons to be thankful even in the midst of the struggle.
Which reminded me of this post which Dori wrote about thankfulness. And I knew I needed to embrace thankfulness, rather than the struggle.
Then Tuesday night I read this post in which Ginny turned her trials into reasons to be thankful.
And I thought, That's it! I am going to turn this struggle around. I'm going to turn my eyes upon Jesus! I am going to choose to be thankful right here in the midst of my struggle. Not because I enjoy the trial, but because I trust my Savior.
Soooo, today I am thankful. Thankful in the middle of the struggle.
I am thankful for the job I have. I am thankful that I can work as unto the LORD - that I do not have to work for the approval of man, rather that I can do it all for Him.
I am thankful for my two crazy, un-focused sons. I am thankful that God created them perfectly, and for a purpose. I am thankful that He will bring His good work to completion in them - in His perfect timing. I am thankful that God is using my struggles with my boys to refine me, and make me into the woman He created me to be.
I am thankful that it isn't up to me to become adequate, or 'enough.' Rather, by His grace, mercy, and power, God will make me enough and I can trust Him. I am so very, very thankful that nothing in my life is about me and my ability. It's all about HIM. All.of.it!
Ahhhhh. Thank You, JESUS!
Are you struggling today? Try turning it into thankfulness. You'll be amazed at how it changes everything.
8 comments:
I heard Jan Silvious say recently that science has determined that the part of our brains that controls our feelings of anxiety and fear is the same part that controls our ability to be grateful and full of thanksgiving. Not only that (and this is the good part), but that part of the brain cannot go down those same paths at the same time.
So, in other words, we are physically inable to have the physiological effects of fear/anxiety at the same time as we are having the physiological response to expressing gratitude and thanksgiving!
Don't you love that??
So today, I choose thankfulness!!!
Praying for you...and me!
Blessings,
Dori
Oh how I needed to read this today. (((HUGS))) to you!
Thank you so much for this...I needed this...I have been struggling too. God bless.
Choosing THANKFULNESS with you today!
Dori - I.love.it! And it makes so much sense. Praise be to our Creator who made us that way!
Jodi - (((HUGS))) right back! *grin*
Betty Jo - I'm glad. Not that you're struggling, but that God is caring for you. Keep holding on to Him, my friend.
Patricia - It is a choice. A good one!
I feel so special that my blog got included in your wonderful blog...yes it is easy to be thankful and positive when things are going right. Then things start going wrong and here we go to the negativism. I strongly suggest reading the book "Managing Your Emotions" by Joyce Meyer. It is very good and eye opening. I have not finished it yet but it is awesome so far. I hope you have a great weekend!
This is a beautiful message, Karen. I need to be reminded to be thankful because I tend to forget.
I am so sorry for your heartache. You are a wonderful mother, doing the most important job of raising your children.
Ginny - Thank you for inspiring me to turn the struggle around. *grin*
Angie - It's too easy to forget, isn't it? Thanks for the encouraging words. Need them today!
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