woman full of gratitude, black girls with purpose

If your year’s been like mine, it may feel like 2016 just got started. So naturally, looking at the calendar only to discover that there are less than 60 days until it ends can lead to mild heart palpitations. There are probably things on your New Year’s resolutions list that you still haven’t started and you may have found over the course of the past 10 months that when time passes quickly, it becomes increasingly more difficult to assess the differences between where you’ve been and where you’re going. Combine that with recent events and you may find yourself feeling hopeless or living in a constant state of “what ifs”?

When I think about God, I always wonder how he responds to our reactions to circumstances. I think many times He’s hurt by our quickness to doubt Him or put our faith and hope in things He’s already said will pass away. Now while feelings of fear, anger, hurt and confusion are very real, please be encouraged by God’s promise found in Romans 11:36 “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”

[clickToTweet tweet=”‘For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.’ – Romans 11:36 ” quote=”‘For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.’ – Romans 11:36 “]

Instead of giving up hope or hatching an escape plan, I challenge you to pray to keep your eyes open to help this outcome work for God’s glory and commit to an attitude of gratitude even in the midst of an uncertain situation. I’ve seen God bring me through some tough times before so I know not to doubt His hand. I also know how draining it can be to worry so I choose to reflect on things that are noble instead.

[clickToTweet tweet=”It’s draining to worry, reflect on things that are noble instead. ” quote=”It’s draining to worry, reflect on things that are noble instead. “]

This year I have so much to be grateful for, I published my first book in February, married a wonderful man in April, inherited his loving family, have gotten to see my best friends from college more times this year than I have in the three years since we’ve graduated. I have a great church family. I’ve met new friends, created deeper friendships with existing ones, I had my first paid speaking gig (something I wrote down as a goal in January), hosted workshops at different places in New Orleans, have grown as a Christian, started to bridge the gap between my passion and profession, just to name a few things.

But what I’ve noticed is that coming up with a list of things I’m grateful for suddenly becomes difficult when I’m met by the unexpected or when, I’m in the midst of a challenging situation. This is inherently wrong for reasons that Job makes evident in Job 2:10 “Shall we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” When things are peachy keen, we go about our business but we’re so quick to forget God’s track record with us and I don’t want you to get caught up in that trap.

Think on what you have to be grateful for this week. Here are a few questions to help get you started.

  • What’s something great that happened this week?
  • Did anything make you smile recently? What was it? Why did it make you smile?
  • Did you have a good meal this week? Describe it.
  • If you had to call one person who’s positively impacted your life over the course of the past few weeks, who would it be an what would you tell them?
  • Write about a hard time you’ve had that God turned around for good.
  • Have you seen God perform a miracle in your life? What was it? How did it make you feel?
  • Think about how one of your greatest test in life has become your biggest testimonies.

I was listening to the radio yesterday and Ryan Seacrest said “A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you can’t go anywhere until you change it.” As a woman who’s life is marked by purpose, you’ve got places to go and lives to change. Don’t let your attitude get in the way.

Note: If even after reading this post, you’re still feeling overwhelmed – I encourage you to listen to the song below, it addresses very real feelings of hurt and confusion, has helped me through many testing times and serves as a constant reminder that God sees us, hears us and is for us.

Now it’s time to take action! Comment below with three things you are grateful for. 

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