Thankful For Our Trials and Tribulations

 Psalms 119:65-72

65 You have dealt well with Your servant,

O Lord, according to Your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

For I believe Your commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word.

68 You are good, and do good;

Teach me Your statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me,

But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease,

But I delight in Your law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,

That I may learn Your statutes.

72 The law of Your mouth is better to me

Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

At Thanksgiving, we typically express gratitude for God's blessings. But did you ever consider thanking Him for something that doesn't seem like a blessing—such as a trying circumstance you want Him to remove or change? A grateful heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks. By making four foundational decisions, we can begin to see the value of our adversities and respond with appreciation.    

Believe and trust the Lord. Only by viewing life from a scriptural perspective can we understand His purposes in our trials and trust His wisdom in allowing them.

Accept the situation as coming from God—either directly sent or permissively allowed. If we truly believe He's working for our good (Rom 8:28-29), we can choose to receive each difficulty as coming from His loving hand. Then we can say "Thank You."

Submit to God in the circumstance. Although we may not like the situation, knowing that God " is good and does good" (v. 68) allows us to confidently place our lives under His authority.

Draw from Him the strength to endure. No one has the ability within himself to endure hardships with gratefulness. Only by relying on the Lord can believers go through adversity with an appreciative heart.

We all face trials and tribulations and sometimes, it’s hard to remember to be thankful during those times.  When those times arise in my life I try to remember 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Instead of saying, “Woe is me” like I did for a great amount of time, I now ask, “God, who can I help in the future by experiencing this?”

Now, think about that circumstance you would like changed, and with a new mindset, offer this prayer to God: "Lord, I accept this situation as coming from You. In faith and trust, I place myself under Your loving authority, and draw from You the strength I need to endure with gratitude."

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