Gratitude for the little things is how I continue to recognize God’s presence with me in all of the unknown, uncontrollable, and/or undesired circumstances around me. It seems like I need to learn this lesson all over again in each new season. The past four weeks have had a lot of stressors and I was pretty overwhelmed as I looked at all of the things that I had no control over. My circumstances have not changed and I still have many unanswered questions, but this past week I was able to take a bit of a step back and as I did my perspective shifted. I am not in control but my Heavenly Father is. Even in my mistakes from all that I don’t know in this new culture, He is protecting me and redeeming my mistakes for His glory. I have been holding onto the promise of Psalm 116:5-6 in this season:
“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, He saved me.”
I looked up synonyms for unwary and they include: incautious, careless, thoughtless, unthinking, heedless, inattentive, unwatchful, unobservant, off-guard, absent-minded. I tend to be someone who is hyper aware of all possible risks and take every precaution to avoid them. But sometimes I’m tired or I just can’t foresee certain circumstances, especially in a new cultural environment. I love that this passage promises that in these weaknesses I am protected by my Heavenly Father. I find peace in His care, grace and compassion.
Some of the things I am thankful for recently:
- Butterflies and flowers as I walk around town in places I would not expect.
- Friends to do things with.
- A new perspective as I take time to rest and recover from a cold.
- A quiet apartment space in a busy city.
- Air conditioning for making hot days more bearable.
- Rain to help keep things growing and help to clear pollution out of the air.
- Grace in mistakes and opportunities to laugh together.
- A team to help me learn this new cultural context.
- Worship songs to remind me of truth no matter how I am feeling.
- Eggs being sold in a new and convenient location when I needed them.