A serious case of grumpy

One of my favorite books is about gratefulness. In fact I think I need to reread this book as I feel awfully grumbly as of late. I don’t like the world, politics and this feeling of unsettledness in my personal life– in no certain order. All these categories seem to slop and slosh all over each other… I’m overwhelmed by terrorists who have no regard for human life, for political candidates that have morals so foreign from my own it appears they don’t have any at all.  And then there is the feeling of the impending move which we may find out about on Nov. 1^st or any date the government decides to make a decision. I could say it’s about control—me not having any. But I think there is something else lurking that I don’t like to admit.

It’s a matter of trust. Do I trust Him? Do I trust what He allows to happen in my life? Do I know with a great certainty that nothing can happen to me without His express permission? Do I just say that or do I really believe it? Does He care about Christians being slaughtered in Syria? The Bible enlightens us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”  Does He care who is president? Well the Bible informs us in Daniel he “sets up and dethrones kings”, which I’m sure could be expanded to include presidents. Since He holds everyone’s very breath in His hands, He certainly is in control of who is leading our country.

Does He care if we move or where we move? Or is it about following? Is it about trusting that I can be a blessing to people wherever we are. And that people can bless me as well. It’s hard to know what life is going to be like in Virginia or Florida or Texas or any place. If you’ve been to a particular location then there is some familiarity with it. Take Texas—we’ve spent a good amount of time living in West Texas. Do we go back to Texas because it’s comfortable and we know what to expect? Or do we follow where He leads even if it means something completely foreign. Part of loving people in more than one place is leaving a piece of your heart behind. It means never feeling completely content because you are always missing someone.  Have you ever missed someone you never met? It’s an unexplainable experience.

I think there is a certain amount of discontent built into our lives down here because the Earth is just a transient place for us. Hawaii is like that. I’ve noticed people stay about five years and then go back to the mainland. Not sure why—maybe island fever, maybe the harried and hectic traffic or less than stellar attitudes from more than a few residents. But we are always looking for something, always looking for more.  A way out of our brokenness… You know what we are looking for right? We are looking for something eternal. Something that doesn’t exist down here. We search diligently for Mayberry or Mitford—an ideal spot surrounded by glorious mountains and azure oceans with adorable turtles and otters and no litter and everyone respectful of each other and the earth and it’s just not going to happen. It’s not hard to understand really. There’s one reason.

It’s this pesky little problem of sin. A problem which every last one of us has suffered with from the moment we made our debut. Have you ever lied? You’re a liar. Have you ever taken a pen or other office supplies home or kept still when you were undercharged for something?  You are a thief.  Have you ever thought ugly thoughts of someone? Jesus says you are committing murder.  Wow. Harsh.  So is it hopeless? Well it could have been. But happily it’s not. Jesus died for you and for me even though he had none of that sin that plagues us. Because He has unconditional love for every one of us. We have something to look forward to if we can just keep our eyes on heaven—on the eternal.

So in the meantime, we keep our eyes on Him. And we do that best through choosing to be thankful.  Thankful, as He exhorts, in all things. Choosing to be grateful in the unfamiliar, the uncomfortable and the unpleasant things of life, as well as the obvious glorious times we relish. The mountains and the valleys, the good times and the bad, the hard rugged terrain and the easy paved path. If we can create the habit of giving thanks in all things, I think we are on our way to a contented spirit that nothing can rattle.

It’s what I need to do. I have gotten out of the habit.

Give Thanks. For this is the will of Christ Jesus in God for you.

Help me Lord to never let a moment go by when I am not thankful for Who You are and what You’ve done for the world. For me. Keep my eyes on You during the uncertain times that lie ahead and help me to trust with all my heart that You will make all things work together for my good and for Your glory.   

In Your powerful, life-sustaining Grip~

Amen.