Finding Gratitude In Hard Seasons
If you’re like me, you too have experienced seasons where it was difficult to find anything to be joyful about, much less be thankful for; but it’s vital for our physical, mental, and spiritual health to navigate these difficulties well. SO…what are some ways we can navigate through these hard seasons and find some gratitude along the way?
Seeds Watered From Tears
God can use the tears of our pain to water seeds of great purpose. As I’ve walked through the unexpected pain of my husband’s sudden death and becoming a widow and single mom, these stories of purpose from pain encourage me. Not because the purpose justifies the pain or alleviates it. God never expects us to gloss over deep loss or circumstances that shatter our world. God calls us to lament and grieve, even as we grieve with hope.
The Heart of Home
If we focus solely on these external elements, we miss the deeper essence of what a home truly is. Could it be that God wants to restore and preserve the heart of the home? That home is more than aesthetics or décor? Yes, those things can reflect our style and great taste, but a beautifully decorated home can still lack what matters most: love, peace, joy, and the presence of God.
Waiting Isn’t Wasted
Have you ever felt like your prayers were echoing in an empty room, waiting for an answer that just doesn’t seem to come? I’ve been there, many times. Waiting on God can be one of the hardest things we do as believers, especially when the prayers we’re lifting up are deeply personal and tied to our heart’s deepest desires. They can bring days of grief, pain, and sorrow. Anyone else learning to be patient? Me too.