Road Trip: Are we there yet? Even when we complain, God is good! (His Encouragement #29)

This post is part of the weekly series, “His Encouragement: Thursday Thoughts to Strengthen Your Soul.” 

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever 

-Psalm 106.1

Sometimes it is tempting to complain…

This Saturday, Jeff and I will be taking a road trip to Ohio in order to attend a seminar on church stewardship and fundraising. I am very much looking forward to this opportunity for continued growth and education; however, one thing that he is NOT looking forward to is the very long car ride!

As you may know, I have low vision. Due to my poor eye sight, I am unable to drive. This was not an issue when I lived and worked in Washington, D.C.,, where public transportation was widely available; however, now that I am serving in rural Pennsylvania, transportation has become a larger issue. In order to overcome this issue, I set aside part of my paycheck in order to pay a driver (a practice that is common among people who are blind and low vision). I also use  Uber. However, for long journeys, Jeff is the one who ends up driving.

 

 

Even When We Complain, God is Good!

My constant complaint is that I can’t drive, but we all have aspects of our lives with which we are dissatisfied. Do you ever feel frustrated and tempted to complain? It’s only natural to get frustrated with the world in which we live. Whether you have a disability or not, we are all tempted to complain sometimes.

Perhaps you wish that you had a better job, a nicer car, or a larger home. In life, it is so easy to focus on what we want instead of the many blessings we already have in our lives.

Gratitude Makes You Healthier

Did you know that studies have shown that cultivating a spirit of gratitude can make you both happier and healthier? According to Harvard Medical School, “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Often, I am tempted to feel frustrated. I can’t help but feel the temptation to focus on the things that I can’t do instead of focusing on the things that I can do. However, the Bible reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that God loves each and everyone of us. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His Faithful love endures forever (Psalm 106.1).”

This week, instead of focusing on what we have to complain about, I invite you to join with me in making time to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives.  I will give thanks to God for God’s enduring and everlasting love. Furthermore, I will try to focus on the fact that I am blessed with a spouse who is willing to drive eight hours round trip all the way out to Ohio just so I can attend my seminar. (You can really tell if you love another person if you are willing to spend eight hours in a car with them!)

 

Until Next Time,

ROAD TRIP!

-Rev. Rebecca

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This post is part of the series, “His Encouragement: Thursday Thoughts to Strengthen Your Soul.”

Now, it’s your turn! What Scripture verse is inspiring you this week? Let me know in the comments below!

Thursdays are always a really long day of the week for me. As a pastor, Sunday feels like the natural beginning of my week. By the time I get to Thursday, I am tired and drained. That’s why I’m excited to join with a group of blogging friends in order to offer you a weekly devotional which will be posted every Thursday.

Please be sure to check out the other great bloggers involved in the His Encouragement weekly series!