Trust and Thankfulness

“Trust and thankfulness will get you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining, those sister sins that so easily entangle you. Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting Me. It is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. The more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes. Thought patterns of trust become etched into your brain. Relegate troubles to the periphery of your mind, so that I can be central in your thoughts. Thus you focus on Me, entrusting your concerns into My care.”
(Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

What does it mean to truly trust and be thankful? It is easy to trust when things are falling into place exactly how I imagined it would. It is easy to be thankful for the things that bring bliss and freedom. But when there is pain and uncertainty the ease shifts to fear and worry. In the last week or so the Lord has been showing me that trust is a choice and not just a onetime occurrence. Trust is a constant surrendering of the circumstances both good and bad. The Lord has also been challenging me in the area of thankfulness, asking me, “Why Kim do you only thank me when things are turning out how you want them to? When your support comes in? When things go smoothly?” Ouch. He has opened my eyes and heart to allow me to see that really I need to be more thankful for the hard times than the smooth times. Because it is through the difficult times that there is no possible way I can rely on my own strength. It is through the uncertainty that I am drawn closer to my maker the author and perfector of all things, who knows all things, and uses all things for my good and His glory. So I write this blog entry today with a trusting and thankful heart, full of faith, believing that my heavenly Father is going to draw me closer to Himself through each moment of each day no matter what it holds. I write this blog entry with a greater hunger and desire to walk in the light of HIS presence and rejoice in HIS name all day long.

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.” Psalm 89:15-17