The other day, I stepped into the grocery store and immediately realized my mistake. Once again, I had forgotten to switch out my glasses before entering the store. My prescription sunglasses are perfect for driving on a bright, sunny day. But, in the relative dimness of the store, I was forced to choose between the blurry view of my naked eyes and the difficulties of surveying my surroundings through lenses much too dark for clarity. This experience reminded me that choosing the correct lenses matters.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Rejoice always. Give thanks in every circumstance. This can be tough advice to follow. While I have chosen “gratitude” as my focus word for 2022, I don’t find looking at life through the lens of thanksgiving as simple as switching from one pair of glasses to another. However, I have found it to be easier than I first thought and far more life changing.
God is always willing to walk with me through times of fear and anxiety, and I can always turn to Him with my troubles, misgivings, and sorrows. However, Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” I am learning that when I approach my prayer time with God from a posture of thankfulness and praise, He not only hears my requests but is at work in my mind and heart reframing the way I see the circumstances around me. This is often a far greater gift than the answer to my specific request.
This lens of gratitude is beneficial in viewing both small inconveniences and life’s greater heartaches. For example, when viewing a sink overflowing with dirty dishes at the end of a long day, instead of seeing an exhausting task ahead, I can begin counting my blessings. Here is evidence that my family has been nourished. That we have been able to gather to share food and conversation. Furthermore, the convenience of clean, hot water streaming into my kitchen sink is a joy not to be taken for granted. The soapy suds and fluffy bubbles become things of beauty. And, when I drain the water and stand back to admire a shiny sink, I can see that, if only for a brief moment, I have brought order and cleanliness to a small portion of my world.
For greater struggles in life, such as experiencing the loss of a loved one, I allow myself to grieve. But I also reach for that lens of thankfulness. I thank God for the time I had with this precious person in my life, for the example of the godly life they lived, the happiness I knew because of knowing them, and the joyous certainty that because of their faithful relationship with Christ, I will see them again in Heaven.
Therefore, by choosing to view all of life’s circumstances with gratitude, I can strive to live out Colossians 2:6-7, which says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”