More Than Gratitude
by Gail Rogers
**Are you overwhelmed with the situation you are in right now? Do you need to talk with someone? http://christianwomentoday.com/chat/askus.html
Becky had often heard the little saying, “Have an attitude of gratitude,” and for the most part she did. She could count her blessings and generally found a thankful spirit.
Yet she could find no thankfulness in this difficult circumstance! Her “attitude of gratitude” could find nothing for which to be thankful for. If she were not careful, her heart could slip into despair and even bitterness.
She didn’t feel like reading her Bible, but she picked it up and flipped through it. Her eyes fell on a familiar verse she had highlighted with red…
“…in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.??? (1 Thessalonians 6:18).
It seemed to hit her with new clarity. It said, “in everything” not, “for everything.” She pondered the thought. If she could not be thankful FOR this particular circumstance, what did it mean to be thankful IN it?
Life Lesson: Time management
Are you still growing spiritually?: Check your compass and let God lead you
When we ask sincere questions, with hearts hungry to understand God’s ways, the Holy Spirit shows us the answer.
Thoughts tumbled in her mind. She could be thankful for God’s faithfulness to her. As she recalled times past when life seemed out of control, she recalled God’s steadying hand upon her and how His strength had carried her in difficult times (Matthew 11:28).
She could be thankful that God promised to work things out for good…yes; she had seen His hand bring good out of the most troubling things (Romans 8:28).
With fresh realization her heart grew a bit lighter as she saw what God meant…be thankful IN her circumstance because she knew God was bigger than any problem and He would be faithful to help her, His child.
~ Father God, I am truly thankful for my blessings. Yet it is quite another thing to be thankful in the hard times and with the unanswered questions of life. Thank You for understanding that it is not easy for me. Thank You for showing me that when I can’t be thankful for the hard stuff, You remind me just to be thankful IN it. For it is in that where Your character of faithfulness will be proven over and over to me. Thank You for the confidence that You will see me through. Help me to lean hard on Your strength, wisdom and care. Thank You that You will build a track record in my life through Your faithfulness. You enable me to be thankful in hard times because You are my God and You can be trusted with my life, even in the hard stuff! In Jesus’ name I pray, amen
Questions: How do you respond in difficult circumstances? What does it mean to be thankful “in everything” not, “for everything?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/gail-rodgers/
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.
Andi, Thank you so much for that link! I’ve been reading their site and signed up for their devotional. I have been standing for my marriage all along, but it seems everyone thought I was crazy. It’s so encouraging to see that there are others who are making the stand also.
Judy, the youngest 4 are all adopted. The 6 year old just had her birthday, the 3 youngest are all within 3 months. Kind of like “triplets”. We’ve had them since they were newborns … it was an amazing adventure, a journey God put my husband and I on.
Thank you all. I lift each and every one of you up in prayer.
Debbie, I thank God for the prayer regarding the Prodigal for it jogged my mind.
There is an amazing OnLine Ministry for married couples who are going thru what you are.
It is http://www.rejoiceministries.org and is a husband and wife team who were actually divorced and her STAND for her Prodigal husband was used of God to bring him back;
NOW they have a huge ministry STANDING alongside others who pray and take a STAND to have their Prodigal spouses return.
There is much godly wisdom and lessons to be learned from receiving their daily letter and devotional.
I do hope you will check them out.
Be blessed in all the ways the ladies are praying; and may there be many to ‘come round you and the children’ in practical, hands-on ways to help and encourage you! Amen
Debbie & Tracy, prayers are going up for you. Take encouragment.
Debbie, you said your children are 5, 5, 6, 7, and 10. Are the 5 year olds twins are just 9 months apart?
Have you seen any social services yet to see what is available to you? (Food stamps, social security checks for the children). Are you able to sell you house instead of having it taken away with foreclosure/bankrupcy? Do you belong to a local church? Are they aware of what is happening to you and know of your needs? (Food, lodging). Does any family live near? (parents, siblings) Do you have any training that you can fall back upon? (work skills) I live in ORegon. I suppose each state has certain guidelines for helping those in need.
My heart goes out to you. You are being lifted up in prayer and prayers for your husband too. (yes, as Barb R prayed the prodigal son). Keep us up to date. Let us know how you are surviving. Your needs. How God has heard the prayers and has touched your lives.
Debbie, praying along with the others and asking our Heavenly Father to protect and provide for you and your children. Asking Him to convict your husband and cause him to turn back to Jesus and to your family. Praying that there will be repentance and forgiveness. Praying that your family will be restored. Praying that you Debbie, will rest in His love.
Tracy, also praying and believing for a miracle for your family. We serve a great big God and nothing is impossible for Him.
Loving you all from far away….Donna
Gail, I forgot to thank you for such a thought provoking message. We all need to be remeinded to be thankful “in all things.”
I think the times I have been in some of my worst times, is when I have grown closer to My Heavenly Father.and I have wondered if that is the reason I have had some of the problems that I have faced, that maybe He wanted me to get closer to Him. He has never let me down. But I have let myself down and also let Him down by not making the right choice in some things. Blessings to Him and to all of you. Hannah
Praise God for all of the wonderful prayers and thoughts for our Christian sisters on here tonight. Like Barb said above, there is power in united prayer and I join in with all of you in each prayer that is on here.
There are so many different needs on here tonight and our mighty and great God is able and willing to listen and give all His Divine Wisdom for the answers needed for each one of you.
I lift you all up to Our Lord of Hosts, Jehovah-Saboath ,because He will go to battle for each one of us. He is so faithful and merciful to our needs. And I praise Him for His awesome Power and love, Hannah – and I love all of you and will remember you all in my prayers. They are in my prayer journal.
Dear, dear, Debbie,
When I read the prayer for your husband, & was wondering how to join you in prayer, the story of the prodigal son came clearly to my mind. So, Lord, I agree with all that Debbie has prayed for her husband, & for her to remain faithful regardless, because we are only pilgrims passing through this strange country, & the ultimate goal is to be, & remain, faithful to our Lord & King! I pray that as Debbie’s husband has temporarily left the domain of his King, that not one of the devil’s plans for him will work, but that he will come to a place of eating the husks of this life, & come to himself. I pray that You will not allow him to experience any pleasure in sin, but that sin will become exceedingly sinful (& sickening)to him. Lord, rescue him, I pray, from the hand of the enemy, & show him the way back home. I bind every lie of the devil, in the Name of Jesus, & I pray that Your truth would arise in his spirit, & come alive by the power of Your Holy Spirit, & that he would be free, even as Jesus says, “He who the Son sets free is free indeed”!
I pray with all of these loving women who have already prayed that You would make a way where there is no way, to meet evey financial need that Debbie & her children have, & every other need – physical, emotional, & spiritual. I take authority over the shock & trauma that they have gone, & are going, through, in the Name of Jesus. I ask that You would remove the “fog”, & restore Debbie’s strength & energy & give her a fresh sense of purpose in life & in raising her children for You, Lord. Give her the supernatural capacity to love them with all of her heart, & be the Mom that You have created her to be, even in such difficult times. Just help her to turn her eyes on You, Jesus, in whose wonderful Name I pray.
And, like the others said, Debbie, please stay in touch. There is power in united prayer!
I too come before our God on behalf of Debbie and Tracy and their families. I pray, Lord, that you will be glorified in these situations. And I join Debbie in prayer for her husband. I pray that You will send a messenger into his life to convict him of the error of his ways and to restore him to relationship with You and his family.
In the precious Name of Jesus, who is our Perfect Peace and our Provider.
Amen
Thank you ladies. Your prayers and support mean more than you can imagine. It’s times like this when we realize how important the body of Christ is. Judy, you’re right, I am a stay at home mom. My kids are 5, 5, 6, 7, and 10. We also homeschool, which of course adds a little more challenge to the day :) Unfortunately, my husband has decided to leave the country, leaving me with bankruptcy, foreclosure, 5 kids and no support.
If it’s not asking too much, I would like to request prayers for my husband. I pray a hedge of protection around him and that God closes the doors to areas he should not go. My husband was a very godly man at one time, he had a very strong faith. I sincerely believe we have been struggling with spiritual warfare and satan will and does attack at the core of the family. My husband should have had the strength to resist temptation, but he has succumbed to his fleshly desires. I realize this is quite a temptation for a man, especially one who is struggling to raise a large family. Sometimes, we all get overwhelmed. I pray for my husband to have a softened heart, to bring him back to God and reconciliation with his family. But, ultimately, I pray for God’s will to be done and the strength to remain faithful regardless of the circumstances.
God’s blessings to each and every one of you!
Ladies, I can relate to the things that has been said.Thank
you Gail for today’s devotional as always it is good. I have
been with the Lord for a long time, I have a lot of past
experiences that I have experience with the Lord. My faith
and confidence in him has grown over the years. My knowledge
and understanding of God and his word has increased. So how
do I respond in difficult circumstances? I put myself in
rememberance of his faithfulness in past circumstances. The
next thing I do is is remember his word. Even if I have
been with him a long time doesn’t mean that sometime I don’t
have to struggle with this flesh. Recently I was going
through something don’t remember what it was now. Any way
my flesh wanted to be in control and have it’s way which
mean for me to cry and have a big pity party . Then thoughts
of past hurts started to come in my mind to add fuel to the
fire. Well before a tear began to fall, I spoke to my flesh
and said,”I will not cry, and there won’t be a pity party
going on, mind every thought that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God I casts it down no in the name of Jesus!
I felted if I would have given in at the moment, I would
have given in again and again. I have purpose to give God
the praise and thanksgiving regardless of whats going on
at the time. I know that he deserve all my praise and thanks
giving so I don’t withhold it, at lease I try hard not to.
Well we are all being perfected in Holiness, this means we
are being worked on daily. Thank God the good work he has
began in us he continue it to completion or to the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ladies may God enrich you more and
more in the things of his. Have a refreshing day in the Lord.
Tracy, June 10th is now posted on my computer screen as the midnight hour that you need this amount of ‘pounds.’ Are you in Great Britain? It has been our personal experience that God has come thru for us numerous times just before the clock was about to run out. I pray HE will meet this financial need.
Please keep us all in the loop as the days pass? Be blessed as you seek HIS will ‘in’ this time.
Debbie, to you also I pray MANY blessings of God as you too pass thru this time and seek HIS will for every and all circumstances as you have to face them one at time; that you will not feel over-whelmed but at peace, HIS constant gracious peace and mercy be upon you. Amen
Amen Judy D! What a wonderful testimony of how you have walked thru these things yet kept your hope, faith and trust in HIM ‘in’ it. That’s what it’s all about.
Patti, you bless me w/your gift of expressing in words and prayer.
Gail thank you for your prayer as there is such love care and godly wisdom in what you have asked for the 2 ladys…….and I will hold it to my heart too regarding ‘fear of losing the dwelling place we live in.’ Thank you.
Debbie and Tracy, I too add my prayers that God will send the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you thru this time. May you both hear HIS voice leading you in choices and decisions. May “helper’s” come along side you to meet your needs and to reassure you in your choices and decisions. May the love of God be always upon you, allowing you to rest in HIS peace no matter what. Holy Spirit pour yourself upon Debbie and Tracy right now, give them clarity of thot and guide them in specific ways that they will go toward all that is best for them and their family. In Jesus name I ask these things and SO much more! Amen and amen!!!
Please keep us up to date in order that we can continue to uphold you both in prayer?
Be blessed today
Lord God,
Right now I come with these dear ladies and stand before Your throne to ask for mercy and grace for Debbie and Tracy as they are facing the lose of their houses. Lord, we join our hearts in asking You to provide a straight path for them to walk through the confusing circumstances of these ordeals. Grant them divine wisdom to know what to say and do. Give them open doors of opportunity that will surprise them and they will know Your hand of provision.
Put Your peace in their hearts even in this stressful time. Give them the peace that makes no sense in view of the things they face yet it will steady them as it comes straight from Your hand to their hearts. May they hear Your voice as You whisper which way to go.
Lord, thank you that no bank can re-possess what is in our hearts. Help us all to remember that our homes are made of relationships and love and are so much more than the container that is a house.
Guide these two families in amazing ways, strengthen them to face the challenge. Provide for them and let Your peace reign in their hearts and steady their minds. In the strong name of Jesus we pray, amen.
i am truely grateful for all He has given me and done for me even in bad times He has brought me through some of the most painful things that have happened to me had a very happy ending
well right now I need to be grateful. Even tho we are about to loose our house do to reposesion. we will go to court on june 10th need a £5,000 miracle by then.
But i am thankful for all I do have
Debbie, I lift you and your 5 children up to the Lord. Heavenly Father, you see Debbie and her family. Be her shield and protector, her comforter. Calm her spirit. May she find rest and peace in You. Guide her as she is abandoned by her husband and without income and losing her home. Speak to her heart. Bring family and Christian friends to gather around her and support her. Thank you Father. In His NAme I pray. Amen
Debbie how old are your children? With 5 children you probably have been a stay at home mom, which is wonderful. Have you had any formal training before you started your family? Anything you lean towards doing? Or feel gifted in a certain area? There are scholarships out there to help with schooling. When you are ready, check it out. You need to check into social security. Also, your husband should provide monthly support for his children. You need to talk to a counselor. Keep us informed. God Bless you. Judy
Dear Debbi….
How my heart breaks for all you are going through. Know I will pray for you……
Dear Jesus, pour your loving spirit down on Debbie right now. Give her your grace that only You can give. May Your peace rain down on her right this moment. Lord, You are our Provider. Provide for your precious daugther and children.
Let her crawl up in your lap right now…and feel Your love…Assure her that You are there and that You will never leave her. Give her strength to face this time. Send those to minister to this family right now…In Jesus Name…
Yes, dear Andi…
He is faithful even when I am not. What a comfort! I think of the times that I was hospitalized..that I could have had His comfort, but instead, turned my back…and for years afterwards.
I think of the times I waited for test results..times I did rest in Him. What a peace that covered me.
I think of the surgeries on my hands and pain following. Instead of asking “why me”, I should have rested in Him.
Even now, facing more surgery and the uncertainty if I will be able to continue to work , I must rest in Him and trust Him. Why should I worry? I can hear the Lord saying “You silly girl! Haven’t I always taken care of you?”
I know that when I worry and fret, it is sin ..in that I am not trusting Him through difficult times.
Loreli and Andi..know I continue to lift your husbands up…..I know that uncertainty that can grip one. I know the toll it takes on both of you, as wives and I continue to pray for you.
Oh how we praise Him for His faithfulness….even when our spirits become faint in faith. How I praise Him…that tho I turned my back on Him, He never left my side. How thankful I am..that He forgave me and carried me through those times that I gave up. Oh what a Saviour! Oh! What A Savior!
I am reminded of a time that I felt so alone and desperate. I received a note from a dear friend…and have saved it all these years.
“Patti, Always remember you are royalty. Your Heavenly Father is King of all Kings. You are an heir to His Throne and all His riches. You have a crown awaiting you that has your name ‘Patti’ on it.
There is no other King on this earth that you can talk to in the middle of the night or that you can rest your head in His lap. No other King would care to listen.
How fortunate you are to have a caring King Who loves you so much that He died for you. That’s how important you are to His plan.
Spend time loving Your King. His name is Jesus. Thank Him often for He is the answer to all of your hurts and anxieties.”
I so needed to read this message today! My life is completely out of control and I can relate to the numbing business of not even being able to pick up my Bible. It’s not that I don’t want to pray or read His word, it’s just that I seem to be operating in a fog and unable to actually DO anything. My husband abandoned me and our 5 children, we’ve lost everything and the house is going into forclosure now. I have no way of providing for the children and no one to help. I know God wants me to be strong and to remain in Him, but some days I’m just so tired. I needed the encouragement that He will be with us and go with us through this. In the end, it will all be for His glory!
Good morning ladies. Have to say I can identify w/all the responses today.
Right now we are IN a tuff situation, as Andy still has no news of a job and he is our only source of income. Last night I was overwhelmed by fear, afraid for what might happen to us. But then God calmed my fears and I was able to rest in HIM.
Thank you Gail for reminding us that God is not asking the impossible for us. Of course we do not thank HIM for the bad things……. but we thank HIM that HE is ‘in’ it w/us.
And exactly as you wrote, the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, came along side to show me how faithful God has been to us in the past when we’ve been in sticky, hard, scary situations.
So last night I was able to thank HIM even as we are ‘in this situation’ based upon our LONG history of experiencing HIS faithfulness to us in the past…….and then realizing that HE will find a solution to this problem as well.
Thank you Gail for reminding us to keep our focus on HIM, HIS character and HIS faithfulness rather than the circumstances;
for it is in focusing on HIM that we will find our rest, peace and assurance! HOW loving of HIM to use you this day to remind me of HIS faithfulness and HIS character.
Be blessed!
So ladies I wonder how many situations you can remember when it would be foolish to thank HIM for it but could be thankful to HIM ‘while you were ‘in’ it, going thru ‘it’ because of HIS faithfulness to you and your family in past difficult or trying times?????
Loreli gave a very specific example of her child’s unexpected illness. Our current issue is the insecurity of an income for our future…..and thanks to the Holy Spirit last night and Gail today I am able to thank HIM even while ‘going thru this experience’ based upon ALL that I have learned of HIM over the years! [even though the human side of me is still a little scared my spirit self is well]
Praising HIM no matter what!
I agree what the above ladies said. As Gail wrote, you can be thankful “in” all situations, but not necessarily “for” all things.
I was not thankful I had a stroke 7 years ago—-but I am thankful the Lord was with me. I am thankful I did not die. I am thankful for the recovery I have had. Thankful I was able to spend time with Him during my recovery and even today, since every day is a recovery day for a stroke survivor. Then I was taken back when I found out I had lupus. . . the same antibody which caused the stroke causes lupus and the severe pain started. Again, I am thankful that through it all I have my God I can go to and for the husband he has blessed me with. I pray that I may serve Him daily in thought, word, or deed.
Thank you, Gail, for today’s devotional.
It is difficult to be thankful in all circumstances. When I am in challenging circumstances, it is hard to be thankful. I know God is with me, and I pray the most during those times,I even try to give thanks. but my heart is still anxious, sad, stressed, whatever the circumstance is. It seems only after the situation is over, I can see the silver lining of situations.
I echo all of your responses. Joy is something I have alot of but despair has often crept in without warning. Hopelessness has been a visitor in the past also in my early years of marriage when destruction came and the enemy tore into my camp with the news that my husband had become diabetic or when my infant had to be handed over to a surgeon while visiting friends hours away from home. I have learned how to hang on a little better, to speak out and proclaim the word of God and to fight!!
I am thankful even though my husband still is waiting to hear whether he is getting the job he wants. I am thankful even though he has not been healed yet of his diabetes.
Lord, I give you praise and thanks today for renewed strength, for life, for freedom, the ability to walk and talk, think and feel, for things that I take for granted like hot water and a clean bed,a home and children, parents and friends. Most of all I thank you for being a caring father, a mighty warrior, a precious comforter, a kind brother and my King. You are the precious one and I am your beloved. You deserve all the honor and thanks. We worship you today risen Savior! Blessings to all who read and Hello to everyone new.
i agree with u Gail,its so easy for us to be thankfull to God in good times, but when the difficult times arrive, and all hope seem to be lost, at a point we feel our worst fears have arrived and the troubles seem to be swallowing us,and we’re so down and broken hearted,and our prayers seems not to be going through,and we feel God has left us in this trouble to sink,it is really difficult to even remember that we aught to be thankfull even in that situation
i dont know if anyone have gotton to this point in life before, but i can assure u that its not easy to be thankfull when were’re heart broken b’cos things did’nt happen the way we expected them to.
But i want to encourage us this morning, that just as we’ve learnt from this mornings passage,God is always faithfull no matter the trouble we go through, he’ll always see us through it and will go through it with us
for Joseph said, u meant it evil for me, but GOD meant it for my good
i believe at the time Joseph was going through all the difficult times he went through, he had even forgoton about his dream of being great.
but when the appointed time came,God had used the difficult times in his life to achief his purpose.in the end, he developed a character he did not have when he was in his father’s house.For how could this favourite son of Jacob we’ve known to be trecherouse in his fathers house, always bringing bad reports about theire brothers to his father, now be able to totally forgive his brothers and provide for them.
it is a training process, when we’re faced with those chalenges, its difficult to understand and be thankfull sorrow may last for the night, but his joy comes in the morning
thank GOD,the morning will come, and we’ll soon forget about all the sorrow because of the Joy that the morning brings
amen
This is something I wish I had known years ago. I wish I had been mature enough to realize that the Lord was right there with me and for that alone, I could give thanks in the midst of my grief.
I think of the scripture Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
The wonderful thing about this scripture is that He was always with me through the most trying times in my life. He never left me and longed for me to lean into Him. How much different that trial would have been, had I listened for His voice.
Thank You Jesus..that I am beginning to open my eyes to the Word. Thank You that I am listening for You as I desire to walk intimately with You. Thank you for never leaving me….for loving me enough to go to the Cross. How I love, worship and praise You today! In Jesus Name
Wonderful devotional! That is quite a concept to be thankful in everything! That helps because I’ve wondered about being thankful for everything. In everything makes a world of difference. I cannot particulary be thankful pain in my hands today! But I am thankful in the fact that I have hands to do all that God has for me! The light has come on for me! Thanks!