Unwilling Gratitude

Sometimes I just don’t feel thankful. There I said it. I read countless gratitude posts on Facebook, and today I’m just not feeling it. I looked at my husband this evening and said, “I know I should be celebrating the parenting wins we had tonight, but I still feel blah.” I have decided I’m suffering from unwilling gratitude.

My kids suffer from this frequently. I will ask them what they are thankful for and I will get a blank stare. The hard knocks of the day leave them feeling blah. I get it, but my head knows what my heart isn’t feeling. Unwilling gratitude can become genuine gratitude by focusing on the wins from the day, and focusing on those wins will move my heart to genuine gratitude.

My devotion today said exactly what I needed to hear. “Each day has enough trouble of its own. A logical implication of this truth is that you can expect to encounter some trouble everyday. I want to help you handle calmly and confidently the difficulties that come your way…As we deal with your problems together, you gain confidence in your ability to cope. And the pleasure of My company greatly increases your joy!” (Always Jesus by Sarah Young). Add to this the following scripture and blah moves back to joy.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:7-9 NIV).

It seems illogical, but it’s working. My blah is turning back to joy. The unwilling gratitude in my heart is becoming genuine. I am gaining confidence in what the future holds, and an unnatural peace is taking over.

Thank you, God for always refocusing me on you. Thank you for reminding me that you have all of this in your hands. Thank you for showing me that together my troubles will turn back to joy.

How about you? Are you feeling blah? How do you move back to joy? It is my prayer that we all see our troubles turned back to joy.

Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.

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