Thank You, Lord

 Words of Encouragement

Three such simple words that just slip off our tongue, but do we really in our hearts mean them.

What!!!! I hear you cry.

Please before you stone me, let me explain. When things are going really well, and everything is going our way, our wives and children are walking in unity with us, the governments rule with efficacy and police with neutrality …. Oh, wait, hang on, drifting off into a dream world here….

We have all had times in our lives when in general everything is working in our favour and we can in our private prayer closets or in conversations with our friends or even during praise and worship give thanks to Almighty God for all he is doing in our lives and for his provision…… you get the idea.

But in all honesty how many of you can actually say “Thank You Lord” is a weekly or even daily occurrence for you, even prior to your arrival in the desert of separation?  Not many I’m sure.

So my challenge to you is, can you in honesty right now say “Thank You Lord” for where you are?

As I have explained before, I have just completed my 5th year in the desert and my 30th wedding anniversary was this year 2020.

But now as I look back over the last 5 years, I can honestly say “Thank You Lord” for each and every day that has gone by, both the good and the bad.  Why, because I learned very early on that it was God who brought me out of “Egypt” as it where, and that if I wanted to be reunited with my wife, I could either lay in the sand and cry like a sulky child like the Israelites did, or take hold of God's hand and walk with him, be prepared to learn the lessons placed before me, to forgo my will and believe him for the future.

Now I say it is easy, if you had asked me 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 years, or even 6 months ago my answer may certainly have been different. In the early years, and gradually changed towards where I am today.  This does not mean that next week I will not be saying “Thank You Lord: through gritted teeth, as circumstances try to beat me into the ground.

So what am I thankful for you may ask, well, let me count/list them:

1. Every bit of old me that has been removed by God, however painful the process.
2. Being brought to my knees when my life had the rug pulled out from under it when my wife left.
3. The time God spent speaking to my wife and me before her departure, that gave me the confidence to know that God would do his part in restoring us.
4. Being made to open and face areas of my life that I thought to be well hidden to everyone.
5. Watching and cooperating with God as he slowly rebuilds, rebukes, and teaches me.
6. Watching God move in such a way in my life that I am now able to be here and talk with you men directly.

So my question remains :- 

Can you, in all honesty, shout Thank You Lord despite all around looking bleak?

~ Mathew in the United Kingdom