Hello, SUMites!

November always moves my heart toward gratitude. But this morning I was thinking about something deeper than making a list of things we’re thankful for.

What if gratitude is more than a nice response to the good things in our lives?

What if gratitude actually changes us?

I recently came across an article about gratitude and the brain, and I smiled as I thought, Once again, science is discovering something God has been telling us all along.

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

Notice Paul doesn’t say give thanks for every circumstance. He tells us to give thanks in them.

Oh, my friends, there is a difference.

Many of us in the SUM community have walked through circumstances we would never have chosen. We love a spouse who doesn’t share our faith. We’ve prayed prayers that seemingly remain unanswered. Some of us have carried disappointment for years. There are empty chairs at church, difficult conversations around the dinner table, and moments when we wonder, Lord, are You ever going to move?

I’ve lived this.

And somewhere along this wild journey with Jesus, I discovered that gratitude isn’t denial. It’s not pretending everything is wonderful when it isn’t.

Gratitude is an act of faith.

It’s looking at the circumstances screaming for our attention and then turning our eyes toward heaven and saying, Father, I still believe You are good.

That changes something in us.

When we deliberately begin noticing the goodness of God, our attention shifts. Instead of rehearsing everything that is wrong, we begin recognizing what is right. We notice the sunrise. The unexpected phone call. Our husband’s laughter. The provision that arrived just when we needed it. A Scripture that suddenly leaps from the page.

And sometimes, the miracle isn’t that our circumstances immediately change.

The miracle is that we change.

SUMites, I can tell you that my spiritually mismatched marriage became one of the greatest training grounds of my faith. I would never have planned it this way. Yet today I can look backward and see God’s fingerprints everywhere.

He taught me to pray.

He taught me to trust.

He taught me to hear His voice.

He taught me that Jesus truly IS enough.

And He taught me how to love a man who sees faith differently than I do.

What once looked like an obstacle became sacred ground.

So, this month, let’s practice gratitude differently.

Every morning before your feet hit the floor, name three things for which you are grateful. But here’s the challenge: don’t just list them.

Pause.

Thank the Father for them.

Father, thank You for my husband.

Thank You for this home.

Thank You for that cup of coffee waiting along with my Bible.

Thank You for another day with You.

And when something difficult happens, stop before frustration takes over and whisper:

“Jesus, show me where You are in this.”

Then look for Him.

Because I promise you, He’s there.

Gratitude doesn’t mean we stop contending for breakthrough. We still pray for our spouses. We still believe for healing, restoration, salvation, and miracles.

But we refuse to postpone joy until the answer arrives.

We choose gratitude today.

And perhaps that’s one of the great secrets of Kingdom living: learning to recognize the goodness of God while we’re still waiting for the promise.

Today, my friends, find something beautiful. Find something ordinary. Find something unexpected.

Then look toward heaven and say:

“Father, thank You. I see Your goodness here.”

Do this often enough, and I believe you’ll discover something wonderful.

You may have started out looking for reasons to be grateful.

But somewhere along the way, you’ll begin seeing God everywhere.

Blessings and hugs, Lynn