Do you ever catch yourself taking things for granted?
Complaining about little things that don’t matter very much?
Yes, I do.
I’ve been thinking lately about gratitude.
I’m learning that gratitude can change your perspective, and bring such joy.
Last week, I spent a few days in a tent. Actually, it was a real blessing. It was a beautiful time of Bible teaching, fellowship and sharing the needs of people in this world with others.
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But camping always has its challenges! Actually, the campsite was beautiful. But camping is still never easily. And I’ve learned that the way to cope with the challenges is to try to be thankful.
Camping helps me realise how much I take for granted.
Like clean water. A handy bathroom. A safe, peaceful flat to live in. A bed.
Camping makes these things a novelty all of a sudden. I get home and it’s my bed! An oven! Water from a tap in my kitchen!
These things become a novelty for a few moments… things I usually don’t given a second glance to.
It helps me get a little reminder of how much of the world doesn’t have what I do.
How many people in this world have access to clean water, a safe home… or even food?
Or the knowledge that Jesus that loves them… that Jesus saves?
And that’s what I was doing at Word Alive, really: helping people remember that over 2 billion people have never heard the Name of Jesus even once.
That the Name of Jesus, the Name that has brought me such peace and rest and forgiveness and eternal hope, is utterly unknown by more than 2 billion people in this world.
And that makes me think of a country God has been pressing heavy on my heart for a long time now: the suffering people of Yemen. Years of hurting through war… millions on the brink of starvation. And hardly any of them have any idea that Jesus offers them eternal hope.
Let’s not forget them. Let’s not forget the world suffering out there beyond our safe little bubbles of security.
Sometimes it can paralyse you: the weight of all the world’s need, and how much needs to be done.
But it’s amazing how much we can do when we decide to do something.
And I’m learning that God often blesses the little sacrifices we make by multiplying them in surprising ways…. which we probably won’t see until eternity.
In God’s economy, our prayers and our sacrifices really do make a difference.
And surely there is something we can do.
Lord, help me always be grateful! And help me remember to reach out, and share.
Caroline Abblitt 