He Wants to Hear It All
Special Gratitude Edition
Guest Post by Megan Machuca
Gratitude has been hard. I wonder sometimes why God allows bad things to happen. I feel like I’ve gone through so many hardships and struggled so much that I wonder if God even cares.
But I needed a perspective change. I needed to stop looking at all the things that went wrong and start looking at things that went right.
God has given me so many blessings and good things that I just overlooked all because I was so focused on the bad.
I spend a great deal of time thinking about the past and all the things that have happened over 17 years of being alive. And I thank God for where I am now. God had such a perfect plan for me - that every heartbreak led to me being where I am now. Without the things that hurt me, I wouldn’t be nearly as strong as I am now. How crazy is it that God had a special design for me that I didn’t have any idea about? That every small moment has led to the fulfillment of God’s big plan for me?
I thank God for those little moments. I thank Him for never forsaking me. Isaiah 41:10 very clearly states, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” I encourage you to look in the past and see where you can find God’s hand because I assure you, it's everywhere. Even if you don’t see it as you're walking along the path, looking back at how far you’ve come and how the Lord has protected you is so sweet.
Last year, I struggled with feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, and just not feeling like myself. I didn’t understand why there was so much turmoil going on in my head and in my heart. I was the closest I’d ever been to the Lord so why didn’t I feel his presence? That's exactly what Satan wanted. He wanted me to doubt my faith and wonder why God wasn’t there. But God never left my side. He was just hidden in the little things that I ignored.
To get through that tough time, I focused on what I was thankful for. I was thankful that I got to hang out with friends or that I hit every green light or that I got to eat good food. Those small moments between me and God really helped me see Him as the loving Father that He is and strengthened my relationship with Him. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in any situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.” Even in the mundane, God was still present and listening.
He desperately wants to hear from us–cries for help, frustrations, doubts, joy, thankfulness, sadness, he is such a loving Father Who wants to hear from His children. So thank Him for the little things and the big things.
