Thankful Thursday

On this fall-like Thursday, I'm feeling thankful for several things.  The thing that comes to my mind the most, however, involves the valleys of life.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm truly thankful that God takes us through valleys because He has a reason for each and every one.  The reason is often not clear at the moment, but it usually becomes more vivid with time.  The past few years have been difficult ones for my family and I.  Having three grandparents affected by cancer within four years (and losing two of them) was almost more than we could handle at times.  Throw broken bones and sprains, minor surgeries, job uncertainties, full-time college and beginning a new job at the same time and well...sometimes I just didn't know how I was going to make it.  Much less the rest of my family!  But praise the Lord, we have so far and I know God will continue to be faithful, even on those days when I long for my Grandma's good dinners or a warm hug from my Grandpa and I miss both of them more than ever.

These verses from James came to me earlier so I'm going to share them since they are quite fitting:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers (and sisters!!), whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  ~James 1:2-4 (NIV)

I know I can't even begin to comprehend what God's purposes are for the trials that we endure, but I whole-heartedly believe that one of them is the testing of our faith as it says in these verses.  Our Father wants us to develop our trust in Him, believing that He has our problems and worries and fears in His mighty hands.  He's not going to drop us!  He wants to develop our character as we go through difficult times.  In the end, we should become stronger because of it.  I'm going to close with some lyrics to the song Strong Enough by Matthew West with emphasis on the last part because it's my favorite and it's so incredibly true~

"You must, You must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through
Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us

Well maybe, maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up
‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom
Well that’s when I start looking up
And reaching out

‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thingYou are God
And You are strong when I am weak
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough, strong enough"

Thanks for listening to my reflections and remember...God is strong when we are weak.  He has a purpose and He WILL carry us through the rainy valleys until we see the sunshine break through the clouds!