Gratitude Tuning

9 hours ago
3 min read

Monday was simply delightful. Temperatures were in the 70's and the sun was shining. After spending the afternoon sipping coffee with my face to the sun, I walked my dog without a coat and cleared away Fall's leaves from my flower beds. I had been waiting all winter for a day like this.

Fast forward to Wednesday; now we have snow. Welcome to the typical midwest spring.

Last year, I would have complained, grumbling about the finicky weather and allowing my heart to dip in disappointment. As I drove home watching the fields turn white, my heart began to bend that way once again. But as gentle as the falling snow, I felt the kindness of the Holy Spirit remind me to seek Coram Deo - live in this moment face to face with God. From the far reaches of childhood memories a forgotten chorus found it's way to my lips...

White as snow,

Though my sins be as scarlet,

Lord, I know

Lord, I know.

I am clean and forgiven.

Through the power of Your blood.

Through the wonder of Your love.

Through faith in You, I know I can be,

White as snow.

The old stanza tuned my heart in gratitude. It moved my focus from my surroundings to the face of the Lord.

In Paul David Tripp's 40-day Lenten devotional, "Journey to the Cross," he addresses the complaining spirit vs.a heart of gratitude. The choice between complaining and gratitude, exposes what we really believe about God and our circumstances. He defines complaint as, "a distorted and inaccurate way of looking at your life." When I am complaining the only thing I am face to face with is my own self ambition. It causes us to "miss the intervention, operation, and generous blessings of God's amazing grace."

I realize complaining about the weather seems trivial. Life holds so many difficult and seemingly impossible situations: broken relationships, frustrating jobs, physical sickness, mental illness, and so much more. It is as Paul Tripp writes, "more natural for sinners to complain than to give thanks." When we focus on the hurt and hopelessness, our vision is obscured by emotions and tainted by complaining. What if we could acknowledge what we are experiencing, even name what we are feeling, but then tell ourselves the truth - Biblical, God-shaped truth about that situation.

Our relationship is tumultuous.

I cannot take another yelling match.

I am angry, hurt and disrespected.

They were created in the image of God.

He can humble, heal and restore.

Thank you God, You are in control.

My co-workers are lazy and my boss is never satisfied with my work.

Going home just adds to the stress with all that needs to be done.

I feel tired, lonely and disappointed.

Thank you, Lord for your provision. Thank you that You are good.

Another waiting room, another test, another unanswered question.

The pain is unending. I feel hopeless.

Thank you, Lord my healer; if not today, someday.

Gratitude when it is hard is true thanksgiving. It signals worship for the Giver and not the gift. Faith is in its purest form when gratitude emerges amidst challenges. It is a sacrifice because it transcends the reality of the hard and declares the goodness of God.

He who offers a sacrifice of

Thanksgiving honors Me.

Psalm 50:23

Maybe being thankful is hard at first and you must start with the small things. Thank you Lord for my cup of coffee. For the song of the bird. For the sun on my face. For the smile of a stranger.

Gratitude is a choice that grows into a rhythm and tunes our hearts to sing of His grace and brings us face to face with His unending mercies.