My Trials Are Not Your Trials (And Vice Versa)

**Edited to make a little more sense than what it made at one o’clock in the morning.

And since this is a post about thankfulness and since this is Thursday, I thought I’d link to Thankful Thursday as well.**

I found myself on my knees in the middle of the kitchen floor with tears streaming down my face. Another hurdle in my day was one more hurdle than what I could take at that moment. But then as I fervently prayed a peace slowly began to wash over me as I realized that there are so many blessings in my life, so many things to be thankful for – not only for the things I do have or have gone through, but also for things that I haven’t had or gone through in my life.

Faced with the temptation to give up, I realized that I have been spared certain trials that I am selfishly grateful that I have been spared from. I realized that there are probably other people that would say the same thing about the trials that I face. And then I realized that we each have our own trials and we are exactly where and when God wants us to be and He is in control and what a sweet, sweet thought that is. In everything, the good and bad, God has been good to me.

My thoughts overflowed with blessings when I opened that mental door. I may not be the best wife and he may not be the best husband but I do have a husband. And for that I am very thankful. I may struggle with being consistent in discipline and because of that my kids may drive me absolutely insane on occasion but I have been blessed with three beautiful, healthy, sweet (at heart) children.

I have friends and family. I have food on my table. I have a good church home where I am free to go and worship.

I can walk and talk and see and hear and sing. I have had many trials and at times life feels very hard. But I can find comfort in the fact that I am exactly where God wants me and that He is working everything together for my good, to make me more like Christ with the coming and conquering of each trial.

So then, I can be thankful for my trials as well, knowing that through trials I am being sanctified and God is being glorified. And I am thankful that God has placed me where I am, with these circumstances and trials, and that He is completely in control. I am thankful that God is God, and He is infinitely good.

• Thankful Thursday is here.