Since June, every night as I lay down I’ve been tapping on my phone in a note I call my “nightly gratitude journal.” 🌕📓 Multiple years in a row of one hard place crashing into another made me numb and aloof to see the good sometimes. It’s especially hard when every cell in the body is screaming at you 24/7.

Funny how many choose those times to wave Philippians 4 like a wand, believing the world view that positive thoughts magically make you better or give you an attitude adjustment. I’m afraid we missed the point of this scripture.

🎥 Listen to the video for a new thought.

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In a season where it can actually get old to hear another message on how you should be thankful even though you’re walking through what feels like death, know that God does NOT expect nor ask you to ignore what hurts.

Gratitude and grace are often misunderstood and misinterpreted.

🔸Gratitude is not the denial of suffering.

🔸Grace is not the dismissal of wrong.

🔹Gratitude allows space to mourn.

🔹Grace is the favor of God to come through for his people when they need him most.

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 is the Greek word used here for grace.

It gives birth to these 2 words:

🔹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴 - the Greek word for grace in 2 Corinthians 12:9, meaning goodwill, lovingkindness, favor, namely the favor of Christ assisting and strengthening his followers to bear their troubles

🔹𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘰 - which means to be thankful

Here, we more accurately understand God’s grace is His favor toward us, His unending lovingkindness to give us all of Himself, filling us with His glory strength to endure what troubles us.

This is a noble truth that will help! (Phil. 4)

𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬:

🔹what is causing pain or suffering, accurately, without allowing it to become our identity

🔹and moments of gratitude for the experience of God’s constant help and love in the middle of it all

This is why we can have gratitude in hard places, without pretending it doesn’t hurt.

It's the stories of when God came through for us that we love to tell the most. When we couldn't see the truth for the lie, when our back was up against the wall, when we had nothing left, when all was dark, when we could't save ourselves (or someone else). These become our song of thanksgiving because of Christ's power in us to not only endure, but to also overcome.

I'm thankful for you. Have a blessed thanksgiving in the comfort of Christ.

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