Thank God for challenges
By Greg Arnold
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
––Psalm 100:4 (NIV)
It’s easy to proudly survey our possessions and thank God for them.
It’s equally easy to tell others how thankful we are that God delivered blessings to us.
However, some seasons are better than others. Winds can shift and circumstances can get ugly in a moment.
Feelings and emotions may get trampled by friends, family, or colleagues, and relationships may turn sour.
Take courage, God is in those moments too . . . and we should be thankful.
Yes, it is difficult to thank God for our burdens. But faith is fortified when we learn to be thankful in the face of seemingly insurmountable encounters.
The depth and strength of our faith may be gauged by the measure of our joyful dependence on God amid the hardest of times.
This holiday season, give God thanks today for one thing that seems impossible to overcome.
God, help me to see you in the middle of my darkness. Show me the path of thankfulness during my challenges. Thank you for the hardship in my life . . . it's in those places that I find you most strong. Amen.
Greg Arnold, general secretary
General Commission on UM Men