The Gift of Trust

I was reading from Ann Voskamp's 'One Thousand Gifts'. She spoke about how the very act of being thankful for the moment we are in, creates a cathedral...a cathedral of praise.  We can be anywhere, doing anything and if we enter into gratefulness for that moment He has given us, it as if we are in the world's most beautiful cathedral, giving our sacrifice of praise...but it's right there in our hearts.  


As I'm sure you know by now, my family loves to take little day trips to the mountains, to the prairies, to the lakes, to the woods...any place away from the grind and the noise of everyday  life.  In those moments, those snippets of time, when we are surrounded by God, His creation and all of His glory, it is easy to turn our hearts towards Him and become caught up in a cathedral of praise.


But what about those moments where we don't see His glory?  What about those moments when we can't seem to sense His presence or understand why life is playing out the way it is, or we can't see past the "yuck"?  Can those moments become a cathedral of praise? Does He really expect us to be thankful in all of life's moments and to see everything as a gift?


I do know that He is my heavenly Father and  He will cause everything to work for good in my life.  He may allow me to stay in an unwanted situation for a while as I learn a truth or develop a character trait that I'm lacking or am weak in; maybe staying just long enough to forgive someone, or to learn patience or selflessness.


Recently, after losing my job, I forgot to be thankful.  I forgot that I had met wonderful people, learned new skills, deepened my faith.  How could I turn a moment like this into a cathedral of praise when panic and fear would like to set up residence in my heart.  How can I trust Him enough in this situation to turn my heart Godward and see great things coming from this...this place of pain?


I know that it means change is coming, but I don't know what that looks like.  As I press into Him and put all my trust in Him, I am certain of this...He will not let me down, nor forsake me, nor turn loose of His hold on me.  But what am I to learn?  How long am I to stay here?  Can feelings of distraction and fear be gloriously changed to hope, trust and peace, merely by entering into thanksgiving and praise?  He has blessed me so much and He will walk with me along this crooked path until it becomes straight once more.  And while we walk, I contemplate more gifts that I am thankful for.

49.  That He walks along side me no matter the path I choose, if I ask Him to.

50.  Feeling His tender mercies...new every morning.

51.  The sounds of my fountain and wind chimes on my front porch as I write these words.

52.  The soft rainbow that reminds me of His covenant with me.

53.  That He has never left me forsaken and alone nor begging for bread.
                 

54.  The gentle rain that brings my lavender and herbs back to life.

55.  My son telling me this week that I am the kindest person he knows.

56.  There is always food in the refrigerator and the pantry.

57.  That my group of Bible study "sisters" is so faithful to each member of our group.

58.  That I serve a God who believes in "doing life together".

Can you think of ways that you have put your trust in Him and are thankful that you did so? Are there areas of your life that are in His hands right now that you are steadfastly praising Him for, trusting that He will cause those things to work out for your good? Share some of those things with us so that we may be encouraged and build up our faith with yours!

"Make every moment a cathedral giving glory." ~Ann Voskamp

To see what others are giving thanks for today, hop on over to Ann Voskamp's site and visit for some inspiriation there!

From His Lap,