Gratitude

Finding the Courage to Be Grateful

Happy Thanksgiving!

At the start of 2024, my mom and I decided to keep a jar of things we were grateful for. Each weekend, I’d write on a little dog-shaped sticky note something I was thankful for from the week. I even labeled the jar “2024: a year of gratitude.”

And I’ll be honest, some weeks it was much harder to remember the good than others. 2024 has been a year of gratitude, but it’s also been a year of loss, heartache, and challenges. But every week, when I really sit back and reflect (sometimes in frustration), God brings to mind at least one thing to be thankful for.

It takes courage to be grateful.

It’s much easier to go around preparing for the worst, assuming everyone is out to get you and you can never rest until things are completely and utterly perfect.

But that’s the problem: when you wait for things to be perfect before you accept joy into your heart, you will be waiting until Jesus comes again. Things on earth simply will not be completely perfect until then. That’s the consequence of living in a world where sin exists.

When we open our hearts to joy, even in the middle of trials, we are proclaiming with boldness that God is greater than even our toughest battles.

The good news is that God doesn’t expect us to be courageous on our own. In fact, courage without faith is actually foolishness because it’s a reliance on our own, flawed selves rather than our perfect God.

When we ask God for help in whatever we do, whether it’s trusting Him enough to take the time to rest and experience gratitude, or showing up with courage and embracing joy, He will be present with us.

Today, I encourage you to reflect on this past year, even if it was one of the toughest years of your life. Consider what you are truly thankful for–not just what you think you are supposed to be grateful for, but the moments when you really experienced God’s grace.

And remember, gratitude is one of the purest forms of praise to our wonderful God, who will remain constant in His love for us even when our circumstances change. ❤

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

– Colossians 3:16

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

– Hebrews 10:23

Gratitude: The Best Antidote for Comparison

Struggling with a lack of joy this season? Reflect over these questions as you reorient your heart to gratitude.

When I first started this blog, I believed that fear is the thief of joy. While I still believe that’s true, there’s an even greater threat to joy that’s more within our control: comparison.

We compare ourselves to others daily. That person on Instagram who has a more exciting life than me, this coworker who doesn’t work as hard as me, my friend who seems to spend more time with her neighbor than with me, the list goes on…

Most of us know by now that social media “doom scrolling” easily sucks the life out of us. However, we justify certain types of comparison, though all comparison is a joy stealer.

Have you ever tried to be more grateful by thinking, “Well, at least I’m not in ____ situation like ____ type of people who have less than me. I should feel blessed.”

I’d argue that this kind of comparison is even more toxic than FOMO (fear of missing out) or jealousy. It gives into a kind of narcissism that is widely accepted. It makes us believe that our way of living and our outlook is the only way to be happy. There’s always a level of guilt that comes with this line of thinking and it minimizes the experiences you’re currently facing. Most of all, it stems from our pride, allowing us to believe that the reason we should be grateful is because of material gain or our own status.

However, gratitude is the best antidote for comparison. When we remember how incredible it is that we get to have a relationship with God, and then reflect on all that He has done for us and who He has put in our lives, we are less distracted by what everyone else is doing. It allows us to reach deep within our souls and feel refreshed with joy for the one thing unchanging in our lives: God’s love.

As we head into this wonderful season of gratitude, here are a few reflection questions to think about and/or journal:

What are at least five blessings since last year at this time?
Who is one person in your life you are really grateful for? (If inspired, reach out and tell them!)
How have you experienced God’s faithfulness this past year?
How would you like to grow in your relationship with God this upcoming year?
What in your daily routine causes you to feel drained? (Perhaps it’s social media, certain shows or news sources, or conversations with an unhealthy person) Is it possible to take a break from it?
Finally, what characteristic of God are you most grateful for and why?

I am so thankful for your presence in the Will to Wake Up community! I pray that this is a season of reflection and a reminder of how much God loves you.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Gratitude in All Seasons

Encouragement if it’s hard to be grateful this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is always a time for reflection.

You may be looking back on the past year with contentment. Perhaps this was the year when a lifelong dream came true or new hope was birthed within you.

Or maybe this year has been painful and you don’t know how you made it this far. Fresh scars were stitched permanently on your heart. All you can do is anxiously anticipate the future.

This time of year forces us to generate feelings of “gratitude”, whether we want to or not. It seems wrong to feel discouraged or overwhelmed when we’re supposed to be cheery and excited.

Then, of course, it can seem like we’re betraying God when our immediate emotion isn’t happiness or thankfulness when looking back on memories. Does this mean we don’t trust God?

Something I’ve been realizing this year is that God appreciates genuineness above praise that doesn’t come from the heart. He wants us to be open with Him about what we’re going through, which deepens our relationship with Him.

But how do we avoid enabling ourselves to live in a constant funk while also not forcing ourselves to appear surface-level happy?

Perhaps by redefining what it means to be grateful.

Another word for gratitude is appreciation. When we look back on the variety of moments in our lives that have shaped us, we can appreciate why God allowed us to go through them without being glad that they happened. We don’t have to smile when we remember the loss of a loved one or a heartbreaking situation. We don’t have to shrug off the effort it took to grow in patience or to learn how to take care of ourselves.

Rather, we can have joy knowing that we can trust God with everything, including our disappointments and struggles and injustices. Joy doesn’t equal happiness; it makes room for deeper healing to be explored.

Today, when perhaps there is nothing else to be thankful for or you have everything in the world to be excited about, go to God and be renewed in the hope only faith can bring.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
Psalm 138:6-7

Appreciating Each Other

A pressing reminder when we are tempted to take others for granted.

For many, a story is a story by the way everything gets wrapped up all nice and pretty, like a Christmas present. The characters are happy by the end, fully changed, incapable of any further harm. We are satisfied.

But in life, we don’t often get closure, do we? We say goodbye without even knowing it. We walk past someone for the last time without a second thought. We think we are friends until we’re not.

Recently, I’ve been reminded of the bitter truth that we never know how long we’re going to have with someone.

Why would God allow that?

Honestly, I don’t know. In the wake of a sudden loss, an unexpected diagnosis, and/or division among those once close, it can be hard to make sense of God’s greater plan within all of it.

My best guess is that we are more motivated to be kind and grateful to those in our lives when we remember that we aren’t in control of how long we’ll have them around.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis remarks that, by being made in the image of God, the next closest thing to be with God Himself is when we are among other humans. Now did that put a spin on the way I saw the people who annoy me!

We aren’t perfect and we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over being irritated at people or needing alone time. But we should always hold these things close to our hearts when we interact with people.

We really don’t know when the last time will be. We don’t know the full story. We just know that God has placed His creation in our lives for a time, and we can choose to be blessed by them.

Today, I challenge us both to look at the people in our lives with new appreciation. When was the last time you told your loved ones how much they mean to you? Have you seen the people in your life as a gift, rather than a burden?

Going further, to the people who you don’t agree with or rub you the wrong way, how can you still appreciate them? You might think you want them out of your life, and that time may come, but perhaps there is a reason why they are here now.

You are loved and treasured, no matter if others recognize it or not. If no one has taken the time to appreciate you today, I will. You are God’s special creation, designed for incredible things. It is not to late for you to heal and flourish. ❤

Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.
Acts 17:29

Staying Grounded in a Shaky World

Is your mind often consumed by anxious thoughts?

There are days when everything feels up in the air. Your career, your relationships, your faith even. It can feel hopeless, as though you’re stuck in a swirling sea of uncertainty.

The wisest bits of wisdom often come from children, even if they are unaware of what they are truly saying. Last night, I asked a preschool child what she is most afraid of, and her answer resonated most with the adults in the room.

She replied, “I am afraid when there is something new because I don’t know what will happen.”

She hit on the exact mark of why we are so often afraid: Because we don’t know what’s out there.

Another kid added, “I don’t think we’re afraid of the dark itself; we’re afraid of what’s in the dark that could hurt us.”

We are afraid of what could be.

According to Medline Plus, anxiety is characterized by feelings of fear, dread, or uneasiness. That impending doom lurking before us when we forget that God has an even bigger plan for our lives and won’t leave us behind.

But even with God’s help, we know that pain is just a part of life. We will certainly experience it before our time comes. So how can we stay grounded when anxiety consumes our thoughts?

There are a few simple actions I have found helpful when experiencing fear for the future. I’ll call them the three G’s.

Writing down a list of ten things that you are thankful for each day can help remind you that while bad things do happen, so do wonderful things. It can remind you that God has taken care of you and will bring you through this new season too.

Another gratitude related activity that I love is writing down something that you are thankful for related to your senses. For example, this morning I wrote that I’m thankful to feel my dog’s fur, see the beautiful sunshine, and taste fresh baked bread.

Keeping in touch with your surroundings is key. When you feel overwhelmed in a chaotic atmosphere, it can be relieving to start listing out what is close to you and focusing on the little details.

Growth

Keeping a journal of where you are at through different stages of your life is an excellent way to remember how far you’ve come. After a year, or even a shorter time than that, it can be encouraging to reflect on how God has helped you grow. Often, God uses our fear and lack of control over the future to help us trust Him more and more throughout our lives. It’s incredibly beautiful to see.

Grace

Have grace for yourself when feelings of fear rise up within you. You are not a failure for feeling that way.

In the end, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over our fears. Yes, God told us not to fear countless times in the Bible. But God also knows us and the situations He has planned for us. That means God knows that we will ultimately have moments of fear, and that doesn’t make Him love us any less.

Rather, God wants us to use those moments as opportunities to develop an even richer, deeper faith in Him.

They say you can’t be brave without having fear, because if you weren’t afraid of anything, then nothing is a risk for you.

The same goes for faith. If you don’t have any fear, then you have no reason to trust God.

Today, have grace for yourself, even when you feel yourself slipping. Instead of focusing on what you are disappointed about, remember that each day that you follow Jesus, you are becoming more and more like Him.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.” ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:14-16

The Gratitude Challenge

Are you up for the challenge?

Thirty days, ten minutes a day; costs nothing, but worth everything.

You in?

A couple years ago, I presented a challenge designed to get you out of your comfort zone. The goal was to exchange fear for joy.

This challenge is similar, a means of cultivating joy. Only…a little different this time 😉

At the beginning of the new year, I started regularly recording prayer requests each morning as well as small moments of gratitude. Even after a mere two weeks of journaling, I went back and could already see God’s hand at work. I am tempted to stay stuck in my current stage of life, but by reflecting and thanking God for all that He has done over just a short period of time, I am reminded why I can have joy amidst anything.

I want to offer this gift to you and challenge both of us to be more grateful. This challenge isn’t supposed to inflict guilt on you for the times you have forgotten to thank God. It also isn’t supposed to belittle the difficulties in your life. It’s simply a way to connect with God and improve your outlook on life.

So, ready for the challenge?

The Gratitude Challenge

What you need:

A notebook or journal
A colorful pen
A few minutes of stillness each day

What to do:

For the next thirty days, I challenge you to write down a list of all your current needs and the needs of those around you. Afterwards, write down at least three things you can thank God for, and try not to repeat those things throughout the month.

At the end of thirty days, get out a clean piece of paper and reflect on all the things you asked God for throughout the time frame. Write down everything that was answered and how it was answered. Think about whether or not things worked out the way you hoped, and perhaps how a “no” or a different answer may have even brought new opportunities.

I hope this challenge instills the habit in you of thanking God regularly and seeing Him at work. Despite all the unknowns, all the doubts, and all the losses, we still have so much to be thankful for because we are never abandoned by our ever-loving God. ❤

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 9:1

The Power of a “Thank You”

When have you been particularly touched by a simple act of gratitude?

Thank you. The magic words alongside “please” and “may I”. This simple phrase that we often disregard or use simply out of politeness may be the answer to saving your relationships.

A family member of mine has worked for years for a company that surrounds him with untrained “assistants”, a demanding boss, and a mountain-load of work that spews into his vacation time and weekends. Understandably, he has wished to leave this company for quite some time. You might think a raise or a promotion or a superior title might convince him to continue his job. But no–all he wants is one thing: a simple “thank you”.

A few days ago, a friend reached out with a kind message of appreciation. Up until this point, I was weary of helping this person and considered distancing myself from the friendship. But this message provided renewed energy and a desire to be there for them.

A person close to me has been a devote member of her church for nearly a decade. She offers her time, talents, and energy into a volunteer position that has enough work to really be a paid job. She particularly poured her heart into the Christmas activities and gifts for the leadership team and children’s families. But all she got in return was a half-hearted, pre-printed card, and a candle with wax spilling down the sides. She didn’t serve for the recognition (or else she certainly would’ve left a long time ago!). All she wanted was a simple “Merry Christmas”, a thank-you for her efforts.

Can thank-you’s really be that powerful? Can they transform relationships, work environments, and communities?

I believe they can.

I don’t mean a hastily tossed out “thank-you” as you head out the door. I mean taking the time (which often only takes a few minutes) to send an appreciative text or mail out a thoughtful card. If you are feeling more generous, taking this person out for lunch or buying a small gift. Don’t do it out of obligation, but out of your admiration and gratitude for this person.

We often come up with excuses to not show our gratitude. We’re “too busy” or “don’t have enough money”. But we don’t have to spend money or take much of our time to remind others that they are loved, that their efforts don’t go unnoticed. Just showing up and listening to them can be enough.

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself: Is this person worth the effort it will take to make them feel appreciated?

I hope the answer is yes. In fact, I hope the answer is that they are worth much more than whatever you can offer.

The truth is, when we have someone in our lives that restores our hope in humanity, who is there in our time of need, or simply makes the world a brighter place, we feel like we have little to offer in return.

That’s the real reason we are scared to say “thank-you”. We don’t believe we can return the favor, so we don’t even try.

But trust me, whatever you do will make a difference. When our acts of service or generosity come from a heart of love, then it won’t matter how big the reward is, if any.

Today, think of someone who has changed your life, even in small ways. Now, take the time to thank them in an intentional way that you know they will personally appreciate. You won’t regret it.

And as this year comes to an end, thank God for His blessings, despite a difficult year, and the people He has placed in your life.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is the key to joy, no matter what you’re going through right now.

My word of the year, which I may have shared earlier, is joy. I’ve talked a lot about joy on here because joy is such an important component of our spiritual lives, not to mention just life in general.

When we have joy, our outlook on the world changes. It becomes something completely brand new and crazy. It’s amazing.

But sometimes life brings us down. We feel upset over a loss, anger over a heartbreak, frustrated over a job. An assortment of attacks from the enemy can bring us down.

But the number one defense against losing our joy is gratitude.

I recently started a gratitude journal, which I’d highly recommend investing in, but you don’t need anything too fancy to begin your journey to a more joyful life.

Just get out a piece of paper and set a timer for two minutes. During that time, write down as many things as you can think of that you are thankful for. Write down why you’re thankful for them.

Even if you feel like everything’s been taken away, just remember that one thing never will be– God.

God loves you unconditionally and no matter what, no one can take away the incredible sacrifice He made for you because He loves you so much.

A key reminder I heard that I may do a whole post on later is this: Our lives are a mere star in the sky in comparison to the rest of the galaxy that represents our eternity with Jesus. Nothing can compare to the wonder and splendor of life forever with our amazing Lord and Savior. Not even the worst day of our lives.

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
James 4:14

The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10

What You Already Have

Are you struggling to make sense of the season of life you are in right now?

I know that I talk about this a lot, but in a world full of fear, anxiety, stress, and comparison, it’s important to put life in perspective for a moment.

Don’t forget about what you already have. Don’t waste the season that you are in right now.

I’m currently towards the end of a Bible study about trusting God through different seasons of life. One key topic really stuck out to me. The best part of the journey is not the end destination, but rather how you are growing closer to God and as a person on your way to that destination. (Terkeurst)

The thing is, we are always so focused on the next best thing. We hear about a social gathering and we start fretting over whether or not we will be invited. We get a new job and already start wondering if we will get a promotion. We meet a new person and suddenly wonder what they can do to better our lives.

But the issue with that kind of thinking is that we are too focused on two things.

Our plan over God’s plan
Not appreciating what we already have

Our Plan Over God’s Plan Will Lead to Heartbreak

When we think that we know better than the One who created the entire world with everyone’s best interests in mind, we start believing that we are better than God.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. When you prayed last night that God would give you that new job, new relationship, or magically make everything work out the way you wanted it to, you were not actively thinking that you were better than God. But the truth is, that’s what we are telling God when we want Him to go along with our plans instead of us trusting what He has already planned for us.

You see, regardless of our attitudes, God’s plan will happen. But if we think positively and work through these seasons willingly, we will have so much more fulfillment than if we drag our feet through the whole process. And who knows, if you start wondering how God will use this season of your life instead of just dreading every part of it, you may find new opportunities that are even better than what you hoped for.

Two beings are harmed when we go along with our own plan instead of God’s.

That would be you and God.

Your heart will be so much more fragile if you only feel loved by the people you accept and if you only feel satisfied when things go your way. But if you keep an open mind when God tells you “no”, and actually celebrate God thinking ahead and closing a door for you so that you don’t travel down the wrong path, then you won’t ever have to experience that dark place that we can so often find ourselves in when relying on our own strength.

But you will not only break your own heart when you follow your own plan. God’s heart will break too. He loves you so much that He died for you, and when you don’t trust Him even after all He has done for you, then how do you think that makes Him feel? Like you don’t love Him or trust Him despite how He believes that you handle whatever comes your way.

The Penalty for Not Having Gratitude

You might have read that title and thought…huh? I don’t want to feel guilty today! I’m not ruining someone else’s life by not feeling grateful!

And you’re right, in some respects. This isn’t to make you feel guilty. We all struggle with complaining and having trouble seeing life in the “big picture”.

But the one you are hurting, my friend, is yourself, when you don’t appreciate the season of life you are in right now. You will miss out on so many opportunities that God is placing in your heart if you are only focused on the future. When you look back years later, wouldn’t you like to think that you made the most of every season of life you’re in? And who knows, this season may end up being more fruitful than you expect.

Best of all, if this feels like a season of waiting for you, then you have the opportunity to really focus on your relationship with God. You never have to wait to do that! Spend some time with Him today and think about where He might be guiding you.

Today, I hope that you can feel encouraged that God has an amazing plan for you, no matter what the world tells you. God wants to use you in incredible ways, you just have to listen and trust. Every day is a fresh start, so mark today as a new beginning for you. A new path that will take you closer to God and will help you remember that no matter what life throws at you, you are not in this alone.

The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

What to Think Right Now

“Remember when you once dreamed of being where you are right now.”
-Tom Holland

I was reminded of this powerful quote while going through an old diary. Ironically, I am in a place now where I had only dreamed of being at that time. Not some fantastic location, either physically or mentally. Rather, I’m away from a lot of the stress factors in my life, and perhaps that was what I really needed.

Right now can be a really hard time to be appreciative. I totally get that. I feel the pain of those missing out on their “lasts”, or celebrations that only come once, or just going crazy while being surrounded by the same few people day after day. I know it must be so hard to worry about something we can’t control.

But as I’ve said time and time again, because it can never be said enough, fear is the greatest robber of all. I have talked about how fear steals joy, but fear also deeply damages our relationship with God. It causes us to not do what God wants us to do, and instead view His calling as a disruption in our daily to-do lists.

This virus is a major disruption in our lives. But do we have to let it be?

We could use this time to reach out to others. We could try new things, get more rest, look back on the past to see what God is doing. God isn’t silent during this time, but we can only hear Him if we listen with an open heart. I emphasis open because if we don’t want to hear what He’s saying, or we aren’t prepared to act on it, then what’s the point in listening?

I have a friend, a dear friend of mine who I absolutely love of course, but one thing she does that bothers me is that she often asks me for advice, but already has her own plans in mind. She will repeatedly ask me the same questions and wait around until I just say, “Go along with whatever you wanted.” It annoys me because I feel like she’s not really asking for me to guide her to the right decision, she will just hear the part she wants to hear.

We can so easily fall into the trap of just hearing what we want to hear from God and getting disappointed by the results. Even if God does tell you to do something and it doesn’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean you heard wrong, it just means that God’s plan isn’t going the way you expected. He has something even bigger in store for you.

I hope that you can find at least one thing to feel grateful for during this time. The biggest gift you can give yourself is not throwing a pity party for yourself, but rather feeling hopeful and thankful for your life.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
-1 Chronicles 16:34