Thankful in ALL Circumstances

Dear Friends,
I hope you are well. I'm full swing into finals week with a test everyday and praying that God give me strength to keep going. Thus- I find it important to talk about rest. Do you ever feel exhausted even though you slept? That is how I woke up this morning. Exhausted. Wondering how in the world I was going to fit in everything I need to get done today. I decided getting into the word was right where I needed to go so I picked up 2nd Samuel-- and for some reason thought I had only read through the first chapter (clearly not because I wrote about Uzzah in chapter 6 yesterday.... ). So I reread from 2-6 and then into 7. It wasn't until I got to Uzzah that it even rang I  bell that I had already read these things and I have no idea why because I usually have pretty good retention for reading information. Those chapters are all about David-- going through the MANY hurdles before He would become king of Israel.

As I was reading all about this person killing that purpose and this person chasing that person I literally thought "man I thought I was tired poor David just wants to be king and every time He turns around someone else is giving Him a hard time. His enemies, his sons, Saul's sons, his wife, not to mention ALL of 1 Samuel. It kinda put my exhaustion into perspective.

And then God pretty much said .... "just in case you weren't sure where your heart should be right now" and the very next line I read is 2nd Samuel 7:18


Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

Woah. -- now I have to say we talked about this church on Sunday in church in relation to accepting that sometimes God tells you No because He has something better in mind for you. Here God had just told David know and so He was praising Him for his blessings. Thankful in all circumstances. 

As I read that verse this morning it took on a whole knew meaning. It was as though God had me re-read some of the trials David endured to remind me He had to have been tired. To remind me that even then He was saying "HOW DID I GET SO BLESSED!?!?!" A phrase I utter often in awe that such a loving God would choose to bless me beyond my salvation. Saving me was MORE MORE MORE than enough and then He continues to know me and love me and each day it blows my mind that He could do that. David- despite the fact He didn't finally become King over all of Israel until He was 37was just in awe of how much God had blessed Him. My point? He had to have been tired and yet his response was thankfulness in all circumstances. 

Gratitude is a way of life not an emotion. It's something we have to pursue. I have to confess that I wasn't grateful as my alarm was going off at first this morning. I for a moment was focused on my tiredness, my stress of school, me, me, me and I forgot to say thanks God for allowing me to wake up. For giving me a new day. My focus was wrong and God quickly put it back into place. It was no accident I re-read all of those chapters this morning. He was showing me that I am incredibly blessed even to be tired. I'm blessed that He has a purpose for me and that should make up for any feeling I have.

As I read the words not only were they convicting it was as all in a moment my mind was put to ease. It was as though sleep wasn't what I needed but in reality ALL I NEED is Christ. It might sound weird for me to say that I need Him above sleep because that is a requirement for survival right? But I KNOW that I serve the author of time. I KNOW that I honor God and He will honor me. I KNOW that He will be my strength and that when I call He will answer. I KNOW IT! But this morning I needed Him to move all the things I know in my head and remind my heart of them.

So convicting-- and if your reading this and thinking "I can't believe she wasn't thankful to wake up" there might be something that you forget to be thankful for. Maybe not sleep but maybe people? maybe your job? maybe your health? your family? Be asking God's presence to just show up in a radical way and show you what you need to be thankful for too.

I must also confess that I was wondering how I was going to have the time to read, blog, shower, walk my dog, study for my test this morning, get ready, and make it to school on time. Obviously the spirit squashed that thought already, and I don't like confessing I thought like that to you but you have to know that as much as I pray and pray that God would continue to make my heart completely pure the truth is I'm human and I'll always fall short. I don't want you to think that I have it all figured out because I don't. I will always be a sinner and I just pray God continue to not be too tired to deal with me and that He forgive me when heart is wrong.  If I must boast... I will boast in my weakness so that you will KNOW what Christ has done for me.

Matthew 11:28 says "²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." 


I have a feeling that the context of this verse isn't specifically for finals week in PA school haha. But remember God's word is TIMELESS and TIMELY. Meaning it will apply forever. How true that my beautiful Lord promises to give me rest even from this. I know He will be my strength even when I have none. 


So this morning I submit these lyrics to you from a song that in times of great despair I've found comfort in. Finals week is nothing in reality, but just a couple days where I need to sift through a massive amount of material. I'm not being tortured, I'm healthy, I'm maybe a little caffeine overloaded but in reality I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. First and foremost that I have a God and secondly that He has chosen to have such a close relationship with me that He would speak to me so clearly this morning. Something I've always loved that Mark Driscoll said once is "On days we are feeling overwhelmed it's curious to ponder how God can know everyone & everything & not only keep up with it all but still patiently care." If anything I should be thanking God that HE isn't tired because I know how much He puts up with from just me.

The song is In Christ Alone and its something my heart is meditating on this morning. Particularly this first verse:

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

Friends. As you keep praying for God to show up in your life I hope that you find your hope, strength, rest, faith, foundation, love, peace, understanding. I pray He is your All in All and your comforter. Ask Him to show up when your tired, not just physically or mentally but when your soul longs for rest because its in Christ alone that you will find that. And when you put everything into Him everything else will fall into place. Pray that He clean your heart from yourself and your sin that you might be pure of heart so you can see God as Matt 5:8 promises.

So no matter what comes my way --- Thankful In all Circumstances. Even when your hurt or tired or He says No or your stressed.  In Christ alone that can be a way of life and not a statement and for that I'm thankful <3