There was a season when I lost almost all of my hope. Depression was warring and winning. I would sit outside in the evenings and seriously wonder, “What if it never gets better? What if this is the best it gets from here on out?” In this place, I felt alone, uncertain, and forgotten.
About the same time, I became aware of the realities of sex trafficking, not in some far-off land but in my hometown. I was learning how women were coerced and exploited. Many were held against their will. All were trapped, either physically, mentally or emotionally…or a combination of those. Most were forced into addiction. Living conditions were overwhelmingly grim and the stories were awful.
I was angry…about all of it…the injustice, the exploitation, the brutality, the cruelty…
But even in the anger I would find myself complaining about my own life. Complaining that I didn’t have a job. Complaining to God that He had forgotten me. Complaining about how hard my life was.
And then this phrase started playing over and over in my head several times a day:
Even my worst day is better than most people’s best day.
Finally, I got to a point where I just couldn’t seriously complain about my circumstances. I thought about those women and then I thought about my comfortable home, comfortable bed, soft sheets and cushy pillows. I thought about the poverty all over the world and then I thought about how I wasn’t begging on the streets or wondering where my next meal would come from.
I still catch myself but I have a really hard time complaining about where I’m at, no matter where that is. Complaining doesn’t do anything good for me anyway. But you know what does? Gratitude.
It’s crazy. There are some things that just don’t seem logical but they work anyway. Giving money to God when you have so little and trusting Him to provide. Loving your enemy. And being grateful when things aren’t going the way you want them to.
I’m not saying it wasn’t bad or that my future looked anything but grim. Nor am I saying we should be dishonest, disingenuous, or inauthentic. When life is hard we should be honest. But it’s possible, and even necessary, to be honest and yet be thankful.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15
Young woman,
Are things wonderful right now? YAY! Be thankful!
Are things hard or heartbreaking right now? I’m so sorry. But BE THANKFUL! Find one thing you can be thankful about…and then another…and another.