1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Growing up, every year my Dad had a conference at a super cool waterpark called the Kalahari. We had a week off from school and we got to spend the whole time at this resort playing and staying in super nice rooms. It was quite literally one of the highlights of my year, every year. I would realize a before month it was getting close and I would be so excited I’d lose sleep over it.
Now, being the good Christian youth I was, I would pray and say, “God, thank you so much. I’m so excited. This is going to be the best week ever, thank you, thank you, best week ever, thank you.
We would go and it would be awesome, but inevitably every year something would happen making it less than the “best week ever.” Maybe I got in trouble and had to sit out for a day or, for example, one year I fell off a tube on the slide and cut my face up and I couldn’t swim for the rest of the time.
Why am I telling you this story? Good question. People in Christian circles often talk about what “season” of life they are experiencing. Things like, “it’s just a season of growth for me right now,” or “I’m just in a season where I’m reaping what I sowed, God truly is blessing me right now.” Now please hear my heart, God does grow us and bless us but I think the danger of labeling your life is that you mentally set yourself up for failure…let me explain.
When I was a kid and decided that the waterpark WOULD be the best week of the year. And every time something went wrong or there was a wrench in my plans, I would be like “God, I thought we went through this. This is supposed to be the best week ever. Like, I already thanked you for this, why are you taking this away from me.” I never stopped to count the blessings that were right in front of me that day or the day before.
During this season, don’t label it a season of growth or of rest or of harvest. Instead open your hands and your heart and take it day by day, moment by moment. Let your good moments be moments of harvest and your tough moments, moments of growth. Know that God is blessing you and working to grow you in your situation. So, let Him.
This week take time each day to journal and write out three blessings and three trials that you identify. Thank God for both. Don’t let your trials overshadow your blessings, but instead see how God is working through both, because He loves you.