A Thankful Heart

"I knew that despite the results of any tests I was having done, I could choose to be thankful because God is in control of all things."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (ESV)

“God, thank You that nothing is a surprise to You. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit surrounds me. Thank you that I can give You my fears”. Those were the words that I prayed over and over as I laid on the MRI table.

I recently had health issues get worse and was told I needed to get some tests done. Terrified, I turned to my community to get prayer going. And to no surprise, God heard their cries for me and comforted me. I felt His peace surround me, surpassing my understanding. I felt the confidence in my Creator increase and the Holy Spirit’s presence around me. I continued to pray, on repeat, that God would allow the doctors to see what needed to be seen. I reminded myself He is in control of all things and took comfort in sinking into that truth.

But the day for the MRI came and I was terrified, once again. The thing about anxiety is that it doesn’t care about the facts, it doesn’t care about the truths you know, it doesn’t care that millions of MRI’s have been done and I was going to come out just fine… after all the enemy will go to any depth to steal our focus and keep us in a state of fear. But I promised myself and God that as often as I thought about my fears, I would continue to lay it at His feet, despite how often I tried to pick it back up again.

So I laid on that table, listening to a generic worship station in between the thumping of the machine and was overcome with thankfulness. Thankfulness in my community. Thankfulness in the friends that babysit for appointments. Thankfulness for the sisters in Christ that lift me up to our Father. Thankfulness for the husband that is by my side through all of my ‘silly fears’. Speechlessly thankful for my God that doesn’t leave me alone. Thankful for His living word that speaks to me, that is spoken over me, that is engraved on my heart.

I knew that despite the results of any tests I was having done, I could choose to be thankful because God is in control of all things.

So today I will be thankful that nothing is a surprise to Him, that He has created us for each day and each day for us. Despite what our days ahead may look like, there is always something to thank The Lord for, friend.

Action Steps:

• What can you CHOOSE to be thankful for today? What is God doing in your life, even things you may not understand, that you can thank Him for?

• Romans 8:28 (NIV) tells us that “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”... Take heart in this Mama, God will work ALL THINGS for goodness when we trust in Him. Resting in the truth that we don’t need to do anything but trust Him is enough to be thankful for!

Written by Cydnee, chaos coordinator, mama of 4