While commuting home from work, two drivers, unfortunately, have an accident that resulted in a collision and damage to both vehicles. Fortunately, neither driver sustained severe injuries. What is peculiar about this situation is the reactions of both drivers. The first driver was reasonably upset and frustrated thinking about the expected costs for the damage to their car. They grumbled as to why this circumstance had to happen to them, and believed at that moment, that they were the most unlucky person alive. The second driver had a different point of view. Instead, driver two expressed gratitude for their safety and the fact that the other driver was safe as well. They were happy to see another day, to go home to their family, and were hardly concerned by the costs to repair their vehicle. The moral behind this story is that in the midst of difficult circumstances, which perspective do you think God would like for His people to have, the one of driver one or two?
Though it may feel difficult to accept when bad things happen to us, we should always remember the blessings that remain in front of us. In the case of the two drivers, despite the fact that their safety was put on the line and their vehicles were damaged, driver two remained positive and grateful throughout the entire experience, and it’s when we are able to see God’s goodness in all situations that we cultivate a life of unshakable gratitude which in return restores cascades of blessings over our lives.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Similarly, Philippians 4:4-7 reads, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Being a believer and trusting in the Lord, means we have nothing to worry about as we know we can fully find security in God’s grace and mercy. We can trust in Him. If we look back to all the other past obstacles that God pulled us through, we can feel confident in the present that He will sustain us again. His provisions are everlasting. No matter what we go through, God is with us, and we can count on Him. Moreover, as we express our praise and gratitude to the Lord, witness the blessings He pours onto our lives. He can turn grumbling hearts into ones of gratefulness and contentment. Rather than seeing the cup half empty, God will help us see that the cup is already half full. Blessings reap abundantly through a grateful heart, and God smiles upon His people who find pleasure and gratefulness in the simplest of things.
So, when you find yourself in another difficult circumstance or in a state of negativity, think of all the good things God is doing in your life. See how much a little gratitude goes in trying situations, and how it can help us be content in our daily lives. How will you practice having a more grateful heart daily? I challenge us to think of ways how we can think of God’s goodness frequently and to fight damaging cycles that lead us to feel defeated and ungrateful. Let’s lift ourselves up through gratefulness and love for the Lord, and see His continued provisions and blessings over our lives.
