We are going to make it

Personal Photo: I snapped this photo at the beginning of Autumn, and this was one of the first leaves that fell to the grass. A single leaf, a tiny blessing, a snapshot as to the beauty to come. God has all of the details to come worked out already, and by trusting in Him, we strengthen our faith and see more and more reasons to be grateful!

Happy Thanksgiving week! This week is a whirlwind every year for my family, as we make all components of our Thanksgiving meal from scratch. We all love to eat, and the extra time and effort we put into our meal is part of what makes the holiday so special. Thanksgiving is all about gratitude; it is a time to gather with family and friends and show gratitude for the blessings around us, the reasons we have to be grateful, and a break from the rat race to slow down and savor those blessings.

Blessings show up in mysterious ways sometimes, which only teaches us to seek them out. On Monday of this past week, I was driving home from shopping with my mom and my sister-in-law, Katrina, when a deer came out of nowhere. I hit the deer square on, setting off the air bags for both myself and my mom. The smoke from the airbags filled up the car, making it challenging to see and to breathe. I found my way to the side of the road and the car called 911 for us. Thankfully, everyone was safe, but the vehicle had substantial damage. As the shock was settling in, I spoke with 911 and my mom called my dad. We were only five minutes from home. My husband, Clay, and my dad came to get us, while my brother stayed back and watched the dogs. The officer who showed up on scene cleared us to drive the vehicle home if possible and we wrapped up a cold and shaky experience on the side of the road.

Clay hopped into the driver's seat of the car and I opted to go with him, while Katrina and my mom rode with my dad. The 2010 Ford Explorer had always been a favorite car, and to see the airbags lying there, and the cracked windshield on the passenger side didn't make it easy to get back in. The vehicle was in limp mode and for the five minutes it took for us to get home, we kept losing power. I continually asked Clay if we were going to make it. Every time, he said with complete confidence, "We are going to make it." It took me awhile to realize that the complete confidence he had that we were going to make it, meant so much more than just rolling the totaled Explorer in our driveway. And while there are many takeaways I had from such an experience, the realization that we had so very much to be grateful for stood out among the rest. A vehicle can be replaced, but my loved ones cannot. Hardships and hurdles can set us back and change our perspective, but regardless of them all, we are going to make it.

The truth is that God took the wheel that night, He guided us all in a moment of panic, He protected us from getting hurt, and He gives us hope when we feel defeated and scared. I can't help but wonder why this had to happen. Why at the holiday season, when finances are always a little tighter, why when we were so close to home, why at all? I remind myself that we only see bits and pieces of the story, while God is writing the entire plot. We may never know why, but the important part is that we are all safe. The entire experience reminds me to be grateful. Grateful for our health and safety when it could have been much worse. Grateful for a loving God who is working all the details out for us. Grateful for the complete and utter fact that regardless of what anyone is going through, faith confirms that we are going to make it, that we are going to be alright, and no one and nothing can take that reality from us.

James 1:2-4 reminds us that challenges are opportunities to lean on God, to hear Him tell us that we are going to be okay, that we are going to make it; it reads "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." We may never truly understand why we go through some of the situations and heartaches that we encounter and find ourselves in the midst of. However, they are chances for us to grow in our faith, to depend on the things that no earthly situation can control or destroy, and to find blessings among the chaos. There are always reasons to be grateful, even when we feel disheartened and lost.

Our situation on Monday is just one example of finding reasons to be grateful in a less-than-ideal situation. Many people have much larger hurdles to overcome, and reasons to ask God 'why?' However, the Bible commands us to go to God in all times and for all reasons. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." There are no catches in this verse. We are to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always, continually, and in all circumstances. This verse highlights the importance of gratitude, of seeking God out in every moment, at all times. Regardless of the situation, knowing that we are living God's will reminds us that no matter the outcome, we are going to be alright. Nothing can take that reality away, and no tragedy can shatter our hearts beyond the repair of God's Holy Hands.

Thanksgiving is a time to pause everything and focus on being thankful. Not just this time of year, but any time of year, it can be hard to focus on the blessings when we feel confused and upset. And while we might have earthly challenges that seem too big to overcome, we believe in a God that will make clear to us the way we need to go. Isaiah 43:19 reads "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." This verse highlights how God will create a way for us when it seems impossible. Nothing is too challenging for God, and no situation we are in is too difficult for Him to help us through. Faith allows us to have hope in the Lord, it allows us to be grateful for things we do not understand, and it reminds us that faith is the single most freeing things we could ever have. When our faith feels shaky, when we are wondering why, we can almost hear Him tell us that "We are going to make it," without a single doubt.

This holiday season, I pray that we all seek out the gratitude among the chaos, the blessings among the challenges, and the peace of faith. I hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving and know that I am personally thankful for each and every one of you for supporting this blog and for sharing the love of God with your friends and family! God bless you, today and always!