The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude (34 page)

Disappointment occurs when our plans are thwarted by something we have no control over. We can be disappointed by unpleasant circumstances or by people who let us down. When we are disappointed, our emotions initially sink, and then sometimes they flare up in anger. But, thank God, we don’t have to be led by emotions.

The next time you are disappointed, pay attention to the activity of your emotions, but instead of letting them take the lead, make the decision to manage them. There is nothing unusual or wrong about initial feelings of disappointment, but it is what we do from that point forward that makes all the difference in the world.

With God on our side, even though we will experience disappointments in life, thankfully, we can always get “reappointed.” Trusting that God has a good plan for us and that He orders our steps is the key to preventing disappointment from turning into despair.

Father, I am so grateful that when I deal with a disappointment, I can trust that You have a better plan than mine. Thankfully, I can trust that You are working even when things don’t work out the way I had planned.

In the world’s system, you work hard and then you get your reward. When we follow God’s plan and love and obey Him, we also get a reward. God does many wonderful things for us, but the greatest reward we get is an intimate relationship with Him. Trusting God always brings a wonderful reward.

When you get weary and doing what is right is difficult, just look forward to your reward. Jesus didn’t look forward to what He would endure on the cross, but He didn’t focus on His difficulty. Instead He focused on the good that would come in due time.

Look at Hebrews 12:2:
“… He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I thank You, God, that You are my reward. You are the One I turn to, and I know You will always make a way for me. In good times and bad, I will look to You.

God has created all things for our enjoyment and it begins by enjoying Him. He also wants us to enjoy one another and He wants us to enjoy ourselves. We can be thankful that God wants us to enjoy life, and we can allow that realization to affect how we go through our day.

Next time you have a desire to take a short break from your work and go for a walk in the park, go ahead and do it without feeling guilty or unspiritual. Your work will still be there when you return. If you have been working hard and feel you need a day off, then take it. You will be more fruitful if you take time to be refreshed. If you don’t want to end up with all kinds of regret about things you wish you would have done, then get started today making every moment count. Work is good, but it does need to be balanced with rest and taking time to do things you enjoy.

I am grateful, Father, that You gave us the example of rest. When I’m feeling stressed out and overworked, help me to remember that it is wise to rest and be refreshed. Thank You for the peace and joy that comes when I choose to rest in You.

God’s Word assures us that we have tremendous value because of who we are—God’s beloved children. What you do is not always perfect. But you can still know who you are—a child of God whom He loves very much. Your worth and value come from the fact that Jesus died for you, not because you do everything perfectly (see Romans 3:22–23; 4:5).

You are special to God, and He has a good plan for your life (see Jeremiah 29:11). You have been purchased with the blood of Christ (see Acts 20:28). The Bible refers to the “
precious blood of Christ
,” indicating that Christ paid a high price to ransom you and me (see 1 Peter 1:19). Believe that you are God’s beloved child and never stop thanking Him that you are. That truth will bring healing to your soul and freedom to your life.

I am grateful, Father, that I have tremendous worth and value in Your sight. Thank You for the blood of Jesus that purchased my salvation. And thank You that I am forever Your child.

When we make a commitment to walk in love, it usually causes a shift in our lifestyle. Many of our ways—our thoughts, our conversation, our habits—begin to change. For instance, we may be accustomed to spending all our extra money on ourselves only to discover that walking in love requires that we spend some of it on others. We may also experience the same thing when it comes to how we use our time.

Love often requires sacrifice on our part, just as Jesus sacrificed in order to show His love for us. Love is tangible. It is not just an emotional feeling, a spiritual thing that cannot be seen or touched—love is evident to everyone who comes in contact with it. That’s how God’s love has always been for us. One of the greatest things we have to be grateful for is that God
demonstrated
His love for us (see Romans 5:8).

I thank You, Father, that You demonstrated Your love by sending Jesus to die for my sins—He paid the ultimate price. I pray that You will give me an opportunity to walk in love today by doing something helpful for someone else.