Keep the Change Part 2 “Grateful for the Hard Things” THRIVE Service Livestream

It’s easy to be grateful for the good things.

When:

Life is easy and comfortable.

When the people you love are safe and well.

When your job is secure and the future is bright.

When your health is good and your problems are few.

When you have money in the bank, a roof over your head, and food on the table.

But what about the hard things?

What do you do when:

When the storms come and it feels like the world is collapsing.

When you stand at the graveside knowing you have lost the love of your life.

When the bills mount and the pressure increases.

When the disease comes or the job goes.

When the problems are overwhelming and your faith and strength are fading.

When all the old answers you used to have are not enough anymore.

It’s easy to be grateful for the good things.

It’s near impossible to be grateful for the hard things.

Think about the hardest moments of your life. The struggle you faced, the pain you endured, the heartache you experienced. The very things that you thought were going to destroy you.

If you were fortunate to have survived them, there’s a good chance you learned something from them.

You learned some invaluable lessons reserved only for those who have suffered deeply.

You discovered that you were stronger and more resilient than you could have imagined.

You discovered a faith in God that was the core of your strength and not just an abstract concept.

You found in the midst of real pain: real grace, real love, and a real Savior.

And no, no one is volunteering to go back and do it all over again.

But if you went through it, you emerged stronger, deeper, and wiser.

And no, God didn’t cause any of the pain and suffering.

But if you didn’t stay there or get stuck there, God helped you squeeze something good from it.

It’s Naaman’s story.

It’s our story.