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Too Stressed to Feel Blessed

Have you ever heard that cliche Christian phrase "I'm too blessed to be stressed!"? I've always kind of smirked at it when I hear it, thinking it sounds a little too good to be true. How can someone truly not be stressed simply because they have a lot of blessings? I don't think there's anyone out there with no stress in their lives. I was thinking about the reversal of the phrase this past week "too stressed to feel blessed" and I realized that this is too often my own attitude towards life. On many days, my life can feel heavy, hectic, busy, and far from "blessed." It's those days when I wake up feeling sick, when I have an argument with my husband, when my students at work are disobedient and wild, when I have mountains of work to do, when my house is disorganized the day before an event I'm hosting, when I am consumed with anxiety or thoughts about the people I've lost, when prayers don't seem to get answered. Please tell me I'm not alone in all of this.
With Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow, I was thinking about all of these stress-inducing challenges in relation to gratitude. Gratitude is something I've had to throw on daily like an oversized sweater or cozy blanket. If I omit it from my day-to-day life, I am exposed to the harsh elements that surround me. Gratitude is not just a feeling, because the heart itself is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Gratitude is a choice, one that requires intention in not only thought, but also in prayer. I've learned to change my prayers to "God, why is my job so annoying?" to "God, thank you for giving me a job that provides for me and teaches me." When I'm upset with my husband, I can pray "Thank you, God, for giving me a husband to argue with and grow with." When I'm feeling stretched too thin by my commitments I can pray "Thank you for giving me the resources to even be able to be pulled in so many directions."
When I pray in these ways, filled with thanksgiving instead of complaint (as it says in Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:18), my attitude is able to be transformed. I'm reminded of Psalm 30:11-12 where it says "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever." Left to my own devices, I am unable to shake the wintry chill of stress and the thundering winds of anxiety, but my God is. When I intentionally throw on gratitude and cozy up with thanksgiving, I am able to enjoy the blessings God has lavished on me. I am able to dance and sing and give genuine praise to God.
Excuse me now as I go cozy up in my comfiest blanket and take some time to thank God for the blessings, and even the stressings (that's not a word but you know what I mean).
Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁🍂🥧☕️

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