Hello all 😉 For those of you in the United States, Happy Thanksgiving!
How are you feeling about this holiday season? If you are one who regularly soaks up mainstream news, then I am sure you are probably filled with dread. Maybe you are worried because of the uncertainty of the future. Maybe things have been difficult for you in the aftermath of the assault on the world with Covid19. Or maybe you’re like me and had a pillar in your life pass away?
I will be very honest with you. I have not been so good the past few months. I did not really understand why until I really stopped to think about it. The closer we moved towards this time of year the bigger battle I had against depression, anxiety and the like. If someone mentioned Thanksgiving, I would feel agitated inside. I did not want to talk about it or hear about it. To be honest, I have wished many days I could go to sleep and wake up January 2nd.
On top of that, the condition of this world and the church adds to the burden. It is hard to see what is going on, the actions of wicked men and women against humanity. The suffering that so many have endured and are enduring as a consequence of pestilences and final preparations for the End-Time world and its devilish leader.
As a Child of God, it is not easy to watch what is befalling this world and their continued rejection of The Answer. To see humanity given over to utter depravity and degradation. To watch loved ones continually travel towards the abyss, bound up and refusing the freedom and healing they so desperately need. The main reason it is harder to watch is because we know that time is short, very short. Jesus will return soon and so many are playing Russian Roulette with their eternity!
In truth I almost skipped writing anything, content to let this year close with my silence. But the more I thought about it the more I realized there are some who need encouragement during these times. There are some who needs someone to be honest and say yes, it looks bad and feels worse, but there is still reason to be thankful in times like these.
The old saints were right, “There is ALWAYS a reason to thank God, even in the bad times.” So, let me share a few things with you gleaned from my quiet moments of thoughtful solitude. Maybe it will help you discover your own reasons to give thanks.
Whether we are sailing in calm waters or rough stormy seas, we always have reasons to give thanks (1Thess 5:18). Sometimes it is difficult, and we may have to dig deep, but we must always acknowledge our reasons to give thanks. Every day of the year, not just on Thanksgiving.
Keeping a heart of gratitude will help us remain humble and content. Our love and compassion for others will also increase. Remember precious ones that God detests ungratefulness and complaining. Look at the Israelites in the wilderness, and how many times they stared death in the face for their complaining and lack of faith in God, even though they were living proof of His handiwork.
So, I encourage you, in the midst of a world such as this, remain thankful. Find reasons to give thanks when life gets tough and you want to complain. Count your blessings when depression tries to creep in. When things look bleak and you feel confused, remember your God has taken care of you this far and will not stop now, so be thankful.
Until next time,
Hello….a very encouraging posting…however….it was written around Thanksgiving, and I don’t mind that….but it is a little dated, but still pertinent….thank you….
Hello
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I am glad you found it encouraging.
The post is a little dated, I realize. New posts, however, will be coming regularly now; starting this evening actually!
Thanks again 🙂
We must focus on Him and the daily benefits aka blessings He bestows upon us. I don’t watch the news or read it. I read His Word. Just getting out every day to work and as a senior is hard, health and finances, unsaved loved ones who continually make bad decisions is hard enough and neighborhood issues. But when I worship Him, He gives peace, comfort and strength. He helps me bounce back from being down, frustrated, angry, worried and so on. Count those blessings, praise Him for His unfathomable love and faithfulness. Hold onto truth and Him for all it’s worth and fight the good fight with Him to the end. Cast those cares on Him. It won’t be long until we’ll have the biggest day of thanks ever that will last forever! Love and prayers, Juanita, Drazen and any other saints reading.
Hello Nancy,
Thanks for reading and commenting on the post. When we obey the Word of God when it comes to where we place our focus, what we actually think on, it will always be beneficial to us. We can look around and see what happens when believers fail to guard their heart and mind by focusing/thinking on the right things. It is very easy to know what many church folks are lapping up these days because of the fear and disasters they focus on, pastors who refuse entrance to congregants without the jab, etc…It is truly sad. But you are absolutely right. If we focus on God and His Word we will not have to dwell in fear, anger, frustration etc… God will give us peace, comfort, strength and encouragement.
God bless you!
Hello honey. Thanks for this post. As you are already cognizant of the fact I struggle with depression, I am finding it hard to be thankful in my adverse predicament. Every day is a hurdle I have to jump through to overcome. But thanks to this post, I do see I can harbor Thanksgiving to God with little things like having a great weather station (thanks to you, I might add), food on the table, going to church to sing praises to the Lord, and enjoying the snowy weather. So thank you for lifting the veil, so to speak, and giving me a glimmer of hope that yes, God DOES inhabit the praises of his people and is always with us in dastardly times. God bless you dear, and thank you for this enlightening post. Keep up the impeccable work with the blog. We missed you!! 🙂
Hello Drazen! Thank you for reading and commenting on the post. I understand where you are coming from. It does get hard to be thankful in the midst of what appears to be mountains of negativity.
But I am glad, thankful to God, that you found the post helpful in uncovering reasons to be thankful in the midst of the life’s struggles. Thank you again for reading and commenting, and for your kind words.
I have missed being here regularly…trying to rectify that. God bless you my friend!