Remaining Thankful as a Courageous Act of Trust | Guest Post for Chickening IN

Remaining Thankful as a Courageous Act of Trust | Guest Post for Chickening IN

After enduring a long battle against a rare tumor, expectant is the best word to describe how I felt entering the new year. Filled with hope as 2019 came to an end and the latest tests confirmed my tumor remained at bay, my heart soared at the possibility of what the year might hold.

I gazed into 2020 with starry eyes as long-held dreams were once again within reach. Then Deja Vue hit. The unexpected crashed not just into my life but all our lives. As COVID began to fill up newsfeeds, the world collectively grappled with an unknown future. While the circumstances were different, the feelings in the aftershock of what was to come were familiar to those I had endured throughout my health battle.

Fear and uncertainty, worry and frustration welled up inside of me. These emotions—recognizable in so many ways, yet being rediscovered anew. As the shock of the unexpected settled once again, I knew the days ahead would require a shift towards a new normal.

As I sat with the reality of the present—one I could not wish away—I paused to reflect and remember all that God had seen me through as I navigated the unknown.

+ What had been the stronghold that helped me navigate the past? 

+ Where did I find solace in the storm? 

+ What did I know to be true for the days ahead? What could I actually control?

Among the hard-won lessons I had learned, this I remembered: be thankful in all circumstances.

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