There are times in life that are stormy and dark, when every heart feels beyond hope.
Times when we’re overwhelmed by circumstances that startle and catch us off guard–circumstances that are right here, right now–dark and directly overhead.
No anticipation. No warning.
And we’re blinded by their presence and sideswiped by their consequences.
A lost job.
A dying friend.
A strained relationship.
A rebellious child.
A sick parent.
A lack of friends.
A rushed life.
A lonely heart.
And I get it.
I. know.
I SO understand. And I’m right here with you in the midst of this muck and grime of reality. And I wish it weren’t so. For me and for you.
But it is.
It’s what we’ve got.
Really, to be honest, it’s what He gave.
Because He knows, with His help, we can do this.
Because He sees beyond our limited vision …
How this will refine and remake and renew us like nothing else can.
He sees. And He knows.
It is so hard to grasp it though–so hard to feel right in the midst of this chaos.
Because it isn’t right.
Feelings are not the dictators of our reality.
They can not determine what is true, nor can they decide what will be.
Our reality is, we are never beyond hope, never beyond grace, never beyond peace. And we are never beyond joy.
Because everything is from Him and through Him and to Him.
Everything is a gift. And although it may not feel like a gift, it’s not our feelings that get to decide.
For me, in the midst of this muck and grime of my own, I’m choosing today to acknowledge that I don’t really understand. To acknowledge that this stinks and how I’d rather not go through it at all.
But God stretches and strums, and our emptiness can sing when we choose to give a sacrifice of thanks. When we choose to die to self and acknowledge that our way may not be the best way.
So I’ll be the music and offer praise and today, I’ll give thanks anyway … give thanks for this it-doesn’t-feel-like-a-gift gift.
And as I do I’ll pick up His gift of joy.
Joy that transcends even this.
Will you join me?
Are you feeling beyond hope?
Is your heart struggling today?
What are you choosing to give thanks for anyway?
Continuing on, in the counting of One Thousand Gifts {#1576-1590} with Ann and this community, and the Joy Dare of 2012…with August’s printable.
#1576 Long runs I never thought I could do
#1577 Parents praying over us
#1578 A better-than-ever first week of school
#1579 Becoming a speaker with anxious anticipation
#1580 Pinkberry yogurt on a hot day
#1581 Cooler weather and breezes
#1582 Memorizing Matthew 5
#1583 The Psalms and their messages to me
#1584 Summer swimming
#1585 An editable-pdf Homeschool Planner
#1586 Free Draw, Write, Now Printables
#1587 Medicine for her double ear infection
#1588 Cabin possibilities
#1589 Summer sunsets
#1590 How He’s been so faithful to me
amen…oh feelings are not our reality…and i am learning too that everything is a gift…a path that leads us to freedom…hope and joy…I am joining you …finding and living in His love and joy~ have a great monday~
Thank you so much for these words of hope and encouragement. I’ve been married just 4 months, and it started off with a ruptured achilles tendon and surgery and me home from work on disability this whole time. We’ve had a rough go of it to start, but growing through it. Now I feel nauseous the past few days, out of the blue, and I’m struggling with fear that I’m pregnant. So when I read this post – “So I’ll be the music and offer praise and today, I’ll give thanks anyway … give thanks for this it-doesn’t-feel-like-a-gift gift” – I sat down and opened my hands and thanked God for whatever “this” is, for his goodness that I can trust, even when my feelings cry otherwise. I will stand on that.
Thank you Ro, living in His love and joy is sure to make for a great day, even in the midst of the “yucky”…so glad to have your company!
Oh Amber, that’s so hard! I’m joining you today in opening my hands and giving thanks for that which doesn’t FEEL like a gift. And I’m cheering you and and praying for you! We can always, always trust Him!
Thank you, Jacque – so appreciated 🙂
Fantastic, Jacque….right where I am at this time! Having health issues…not used to that….and seems to be taking me longer to recover! Prayers appreciated!
Jackie S.
Praying with you Jacque! We all have those times, and for me – the other blessing is knowing others have walked before us in the same situation! We are never alone!
So beautiful, my friend. I sure needed to read this today. It’s one of those muddled up feelings kind of days and sometimes its so hard not to believe them. Thank you for this reminder.
Praying for you, Jackie…
Thanks Carly…you are SO right, we are NEVER alone 🙂
Oh Laura, you’re so welcome. So thankful you were able to stop by. Praying you have a blessed week!
This has been a long week here, Jacque, and your words have spoken right to the heart of it. I heard recently that we need our minds to inform our hearts, not the other way around. I’ve been mulling it over, and this really resonated. “So I’ll be the music and offer praise and today” Beautiful, Jacque. Thank you.
Really loved reading this, Jacque. It touched my heart deeply….really deeply affected right now by some circumstances that feel “beyond hope.” “FEEL” being the keyword. But like you said, “Feelings aren’t the dictators of our reality.” God is bigger… and I know He’ll be glorified in it all somehow. Learning to encounter His heart and respond to His invitations in the midst of it… these are my goals. I just wrote about this the other day here:
http://kcbutlersatimetolaugh.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-moments-and-invitations-part-2-messy.html?showComment=1346267057847#c198384326998407793
Oh Annie! I’m right there with you … such a hard week for me too, and I’m pretty much talking right to myself. So thankful the words touched your heart too. I’ll be praying for you my friend! I think of you often and love when you write. Will I get to see you at Allume?
Thank you Dana, it is a learning process, one we are called to over and over again. Have a blessed week 🙂