Grateful to be here

On a scale of 1 to 10, how grateful do you feel right now? Maybe a 6? Or an 8? Or barely a 2? Wherever you are on your scale of gratefulness, I hope this blog helps you go up a notch in your rating.

I get it, it is hard to be grateful when our friends on Instagram look like they have the most perfect lives, jobs, houses, and even families. Seems like the internet is full of perfect little things these days.

I was feeling a little ungrateful recently and I almost questioned God, as I felt the blessings in my life suddenly looked so small. How crazy to think that the things you once longed for seem irrelevant and simple? When we start to believe that the blessings God has given us is not enough, we start to feel ungrateful. Without any warning, discontentment settles in and we’re unhappy.

In an instant, our answered prayers look small and insignificant and certainly not Instagram worthy. Because if our blessings are not Instagram worthy, do they even matter?

Where did this idea come from? When did an app on our phone start controlling our emotions and decisions?

In my own life, my gratefulness ceases when I compare my life to someone else. When I feel ungrateful and discontent, I’m usually comparing my life to people I barely speak with and whose lifestyles are totally different than mine.

We somehow believe this lie that everyone else is happier than us and have the most perfect lives. It is easy to then look at ourselves and think that we are not enough, that our stories are boring and does not matter.

This can lead to so many unhealthy patterns like spending too much money on temporary things that make us feel or look a certain way, spending excessive amount of time on our phones than being present with our families, and the biggest one of them all, complaining about everything we have.

We pray earnestly for God to answer our prayers, and then we get used to the miracle we live in. Wherever we are in this moment, we had prayed for it at one point of time but as the days went by, we forgot. I am guilty of this as much as you.

Ungratefulness is a terrible thing. It can make us forget the goodness of God and everything He did for us. If you really think about it, what Jesus did on the cross is more than enough and everything else is just an add-on. But when it comes down to reality, that is a hard thing to remember as we scroll through social media.

I got over my season of ungratefulness eventually. But gratefulness is a journey and seasons of life will sometimes make it difficult to be thankful.

So now, if I see something on my social media feed that makes me feel like I don’t have something my friend has, I try to say a little prayer of blessing over the friend and the blessing they have. Then I thank God for His provision over their life. This is sometimes hard but once you start to do it, you’re not only happy for them but you are grateful to share in their joy.

I’ve noticed that taking occasional social media breaks has helped me be more present and grateful, even if it means, I miss out on certain posts.

The Bible tells us “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV). Living thankful lives is in God’s will for us as we follow Him. When we thank God for every little thing He has given us and stop comparing our lives with others, our hearts will always remain grateful.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

I have this little sign hung in my kitchen that reads, ‘Thank you Jesus‘. I made it so it would serve as a reminder to be thankful when I feel discontent. I’m grateful for all that God has done for us and is doing for us. I’m truly grateful to be here.

Today, if you feel unsure of the season you’re in, trust God is working it all together for your good and for His glory. One day, you will look back and see how faithful and good God has been to you.

Questions to consider:

What are you grateful for today? Are you struggling to be thankful? Look around you and take a moment to think of all the blessings God has given you. Leave a comment of some things you’re grateful for today.