Pause momentarily and reflect on where you were in life a few years ago. Can you see how God has been guiding your path all along?
So, on this Wednesday in March 2024, the question is, have we learned to give thanks to God for and in everything? I know we all have problems. Our present circumstances may not look so promising right now. But we are still covered by the grace of God, and you still have life, breath, and a reasonable portion of health. We can always point to situations that aren’t as pleasant as we want them to be. Still, authentic internal gratefulness supersedes any outward troubles. Genuine gratefulness rises above our circumstances and allows us to see the hope that is in God.
Reflecting on the past few years, my heart swells with gratitude. Without God’s mercy and goodness, I don’t know how I would have made it to this moment. The Holy Spirit has been with me through the good and bad times, guiding me through tragedies, misunderstandings, and mistakes, even when lost and unsure of what to do.
My grandmother used to say that we must have a “Hallelujah Anyhow” mindset. No matter our circumstances, we must learn to give thanks to God and keep an attitude of gratitude. Whether struggling in our relationships, facing financial difficulties, dealing with disappointments, or navigating through difficult times generally, we must learn to say, “Hallelujah Anyhow.” Even when death and grief become our constant companions, our physical and mental health may falter, or we may feel lost and unsure of which direction to take, we must still give thanks to God in everything. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “In every situation, I have learned to be content” (Philippians 4:11). In other words, we must have a “Hallelujah Anyhow.”
We can always find reasons to complain and focus on the negatives in our lives. But when we cultivate genuine, internal gratitude, it surpasses any external difficulties. Genuine gratitude allows us to rise above our circumstances and see the hope that lies in God. No matter what we may be facing, let us hold onto a
“Hallelujah Anyhow” outlook and give thanks to God for divine guidance and blessings in our lives.