Mountains of laundry, a sink full of dishes, toys scattered here, there, and everywhere...that's the state of my house since all 5 of us have come down with the flu bug over the last four days. Besides that, we've traveled the last two weekends for speaking engagements and such, so there are still suitcases waiting on my energy to return so they can be unpacked and put away. Life for me right now is, well...disorganized, messy, and very off-schedule! There's certainly no homeschooling going on at the moment.
It would be easy for me to get anxious and uptight, especially because there's so much going on over the next few weeks as Christmas approaches, but I am choosing instead to rest in Him. I am choosing to trust in His goodness, knowing that He knew all of this "inconvenience" was going to take place. God is right here with us during this time of sickness, and for His care and keeping, I am truly thankful! In fact, if I understand His heart correctly, I bet there is a pretty good reason all of this was allowed into our lives...we just can't see it.
Perhaps this was meant to slow us down for a bit, and if so, for that I am grateful. We've been huddled up together for days now...watching movies, cuddled up with blankets, sipping on soup, wiping noses, and covering coughs. High fevers and feeling bad? Yep...those aren't fun. Being together? Well, that has been great!!!
Whatever the state of your life is at this moment...I pray that you will choose to sincerely thank the Lord, remembering 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says, "in everything give thanks". I realize that for different reasons, the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons can be painful for some. If that is the case for you, I pray that God's love and joy will surround you during this time. I also pray that you'll fully trust in our Father's heart, knowing that He never brings more than you can handle and that He always has your best in mind. We live in a fallen world and will all be touched by sickness, pain, and difficulty...sometimes greater difficulty than we ever imagined. Our reactions to those times are great indicators of our faith.
Will you choose to exercise your faith - - to trust God and rest in Him, no matter what you're facing right now?
Will you choose to be thankful?
________
"We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Will you choose to be thankful?
________
"We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Romans 5: 2-4
WISHING YOU A JOYOUS THANKSGIVING!
Linking up at: A Pause on the Path, The Better Mom, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers
Linking up at: A Pause on the Path, The Better Mom, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers
For His glory,
