Welcome to another week of A Grateful Heart, a series that’s all about expressing gratitude. I’d love to share with you what I’m grateful for this week, but first I have a confession to make…
Sometimes it’s not easy to have a grateful heart.
Ever been there?
After a week filled with trial after trial, the last thing I wanted to do was sit down and write a post about gratitude. It can be hard to think about our blessings amidst the chaos in our lives. And when we do, we don’t always feel the gratitude in our hearts. In our minds we know how much we are blessed, but our hearts are still heavy with the burdens we carry. It is at these times in life that we must turn to Jesus, who said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-31) NIV.
Despite the current trials in my life, today I cast all my cares upon Him and make the choice to be grateful.
As I reflect on what I’m grateful for, I’m reminded of growing pains. Growing pains, although painful, are required if we are to experience growth in our lives. Over the past year God has called me to do things I’d never dreamed of doing. I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone more than once, experience some setbacks, and make some mistakes along the way. It is through these mistakes, these growing pains, that God is perfecting me and drawing me closer to Him. Like a gardener pruning a bush into the way it should grow, God is pruning me, shaping me into who He’s called me to be. His word declares, “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” (John 15:2 NLT)
My heart is thankful for these spiritual growing pains, which remind me that God loves me and is working in my life.
What are you grateful for today? Share it with me!
What a lovely post, Christie! It is sometimes hard to focus on being grateful during trying times. I’m grateful that my brother who recently retired from teaching has moved to Charleston. We haven’t lived in the same city or even the same state since we were young. It’s wonderful having him here and spending time with him. I try to remind myself daily to be grateful for all of the blessings I have. I hope this week is full of joy for you.
I am so happy for you that you get to spend precious time with your brother now that he is Charleston. That is definitely something to be grateful for…not to mention living in a beautiful place like Charleston! 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by so much. Today I’m grateful for you, too! Have a blessed week!
Some of my greatest times of growth have come from my greatest times of trial. I think it is great to be in the regular habit of practising gratitude, for moments like this when it is the last thing you want to be doing. Train your mind and one day you will be able to do it without even thinking 😉 I hope you continue to se God working this week and in the weeks to come 🙂
Thanks so much, Samara. We have so much to be grateful for don’t we? It is my prayer that we praise Him continuously for all He does for us. Have a blessed week!
Yes, yes, and yes. Gosh, THIS is what it’s all about!! I love so much that you shared this, thank you.