Find Your Blessings

A Jewish man who was imprisoned in an underground tunnel for two years, shared that his survival was dependent on finding anything, even a small thing, to be thankful for. He shared this concept with other prisoners and they lamented that they could find nothing to be thankful for; their hopelessness was overwhelming. But he urged them to be thankful for the tiny bit of tomato in their rice, as they usually got none. The next day, these same prisoners found several things to be thankful for… they had a kinder guard… they weren’t beaten that day, and they still had their memories of good times. 

In the Bible we read this same teaching. “Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This isn’t merely putting on rose colored glasses, but intentionally and purposefully seeing the “Goodness of God in the land of the living.” This next verse reveals to us that thankfulness is an antidote to anxiety…  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). 

May we open our eyes to all our blessings, even when things seem dark and hope feels distant. Once we start counting our blessings, we realize just how many we have and Satan loses his grip on our hearts. Where there is thankfulness, there is joy! And where there is joy, there is strength! 

What are you thankful for today?

(Devotional by Cheryl Hall-Laos)