What are you most thankful for?

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday this next week, everywhere I look online I see posts about being thankful. Daily posts of what people are thankful for or what you should be thankful for. So what ARE you thankful for this year? Family? Friends? Health? Most of the time, these are at the top of everyone’s “thankfulness lists”. When I saw a Facebook post the other day asking “what is the number one thing that you are thankful for this year?”, the first thought that popped into my head was, “I’m thankful that this year is almost over.” For realz, ya’ll.

Since I’m being fully honest, this past year has been THE most difficult year of my life. My husband and I have begun to compile a list of everything that has happened this year-GOOD and NOT SO GOOD-and it has brought to light the many ways that God has shown Himself faithful to us through it all. This year He’s walked with us through three surgeries, a kidney disease diagnosis, depression, financial ups and downs…we have also made so many friends that have become like family, we’re attending a great church where my husband is attending the school of ministry, our kids are thriving, we have awesome doctors….the list goes on, but the one thing that is apparent through it all is that GOD IS FAITHFUL. In the good and the bad. He doesn’t leave us or forsake us.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not wishing this year to go away when I say that I’m thankful that it’s almost over, or wishing that it never happened, but I am looking ahead to better days and I’m excited to see what God has in store for us. I am a VASTLY different person than I was one year ago. I have learned and grown so much in even just the past six months and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Even if it meant that I wouldn’t have to deal with the things that I’ve dealt with.

I read a quote today from A.W. Tozer. “God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply.” This brought to mind the Bible verses in James 1 that say, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” That is where I want to be when I come face to face with Jesus. Persevering, mature and complete, not lacking anything. So, I will look at my trials and consider them PURE JOY! And look ahead with anticipation to how God may be able to use me to help others…. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 1 Corinthians 1:3-4.

So, as abnormal as it may sound, on this Thanksgiving holiday, as we go around the table saying what we are thankful for, one thing I’ll be saying that I’m thankful for are my trials. I am thankful for God’s faithfulness through the trials. And, I am also thankful that this year is almost over and that I can look back and see God’s hand bringing me through it all.

Let me know in the comments what you are thankful for…I look forward to hearing from you!