10 Things to Be Grateful for When Everything
Seems to be Going Wrong LDSLiving Nov 2016
We've all heard the phrase that when life gives us lemons, we
should make lemonade. We've also all heard the story of Job in the Bible, who,
despite losing all his possessions, family, health, and support from friends,
trusted in the Lord and found something to be grateful for—his testimony.
Often life does not go the way we planned and
"fate" seems to be against us. But even when jobs, friends, or health
fail us, there is always something in our lives that the Lord has blessed us
with and that we can be grateful for. If like Job we can keep our sights on the
Lord and step back to see the bigger picture, the rough time will pass and we
will find it easier to see the abundance that the Lord has blessed us. Though
many of the ideas below are probably familiar, it never hurts to think about
them more deeply and be reminded of our blessings.
1. Nature
Even if
you live in the middle of a city with concrete pavements and high-rises, all
you have to do is look up to see the sunshine, sky, clouds, or rainbows and
remember God's powerful, creative hand. Buy a plant or visit a park to help you
better appreciate these beautiful forms of green life God has put on the
earth.
2. Modern Conveniences
You
know—all the little things you usually take for granted like running water,
dishwashers, hot water, cell phones, and technology. All of these things allow
you to live in relative comfort and ease and are probably making your rough day
or week a little better, whether you're notice them or not.
3. Talents
Before
you say you don't have any, think again. Whether you write, sing, serve, or
play a sport, there's something you do that makes you a better person or helps
you understand yourself. When you feel lost, disappointed, depressed, or alone,
you always have a way to express it!
4. Memories
Many of
us keep photos, blogs, and journals to record the parts of our lives that mean
the most to us. Look back on those pieces of your past and reflect on the good
things you have done or been a part of. You’ll be surprised how much you have
to be grateful for in your life.
5. Laughter
Not only
is laughter a gift, but it's a contagious one that is also easy to give. It’s
hard to feel discouraged or disappointed when you are laughing. See if you can
find something about your situation, no matter how small, to laugh about.
6. Your Testimony
Your
testimony is something of infinite, precious value that can't be taken from
you. Part of your testimony may include precious knowledge about the plan of
happiness, eternal families, and the Atonement of our Savior that some do not
have. What a blessing that you have this knowledge and can share it!
7. Tender Mercies
What
little things in your day or week could have gone worse? Are there any
mini-miracles you missed seeing when you were caught up in your misery? It
could be as simple as something uplifting you saw on a friend’s social media
feed, one of your favorite songs that came on the radio, or someone opening the
door for you.
8. Your Divine Identity
Because
of your knowledge that you're a child of God, you have the ability to become
like Him. You have been blessed with opportunities to repent and to overcome
the struggles you are facing and to learn from them. This is
something that we often say, but don't really stop to think about. Be grateful
for your divine heritage and ability to continually improve as you listen to
the Spirit.
This usually consists of people like family and close friends
who are there to try and cheer you up when life has road bumps. Even if you
feel like you don't have anyone supporting you, you can always depend on the
Savior. He is the one person you can completely believe knows how you feel. We
are eternally grateful that He has atoned for our sins and that He has promised
that He will not leave
us comfortless.
10. New Days
If
nothing else, you can be grateful for a new day. You don’t have to be
permanently stuck in a rut, and the sunshine will always come out—literally and
figuratively. A good night's sleep often brings fresh perspective and renewed
energy to conquer your trials. Even if you have to tackle them one at a time.
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