Giving thanks during difficult situations can be hard to do. Yet it is the very thing the Bible tells us to do. So why do we find it so difficult?

This last month my body has been in pain with Shingles. If you have ever suffered with it or know someone who has you know how painful it can be. I honestly think it should be called, "getting on my last nerve disease," rather than Shingles because that is what it has attempted to do. I have learned to perservere through many things but I have to say this pain has tested my heart and my actions beyond anything I have been through. Yet through it all I find when I put on praise music, or read the Word, or just talk to the Lord I find grace in my time of need.

It has not been easy though. Things get to me more, I want to react in ways I never thought I would to things and to people. I find myself pretty short on patience and sometimes I just want to give up. Right before my body was attacked with Shingles the Lord spoke a word into my life. It was in a dream and He spoke to me about oneness with Him. It was glorious and I thought I would never come down from that mountain. That is until Shingles got ahold of me. Now I am seeing attitudes of my heart that are not so Godly and my character that I thought was built solid on the Rock of Jesus Christ being shaken. Yet through it all according to the Word of God and what I know in my heart to be true I am to be thankful in all things. Why would God tell us to do that? What purpose could it possibly serve?

I am learning the answer to that as I go through this trial. I am thankful, not for the Shingles, but for the character of my heart being revealed. Paul tells us we are to be content in all things and through this trial I am learning minute by minute how much I need the grace and love of Jesus Christ to carry me through and to keep me from acting on the thoughts and intentions of my heart, for truly they would only hurt another person and would not aid me in any way. I am also learning that no matter what we go through it will never compare to what Jesus went through for us. Do I remember His sacrifice every minute of the day? No I don't, but when I start thinking I can't take another minute of this and call on His name His presence falls on me and then I remember His love and His mercy and His sacrifice.

I am also learning how to put on Jesus through this. How to walk in His ways and how to stay in that oneness relationship with Him. I am learning how great His sacrifice was, for truly there is not one of us who can react perfectly in every situation yet He did. He never sinned, He never defended Himself. He walked in the power of God and spoke in love to all those that came in His path. My heart's desire is to have the heart of Jesus toward others. To have so much compassion in me that no matter what I am going through, the needs of others will take priority.

The word of God says in Romans 8:28 "that all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose." I realize through this time of my life that I have a choice to believe this verse or not. I have decided to believe it and trust that even now God is working good things on my behalf. He is not stopped from working in our hearts in any situation. In fact I personally believe these situations are opportunities to become more like Him. To let His nature and His Spirit operate in our lives. The book of Galations tells us about the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering and kindness are all part of that fruit. When walking through difficult times I believe it is an opportunity to see what areas of our lives are not allowing His fruit to come through us. Personally through this time I have to be honest, I haven't liked what I have seen in myself, yet I am thankful that it is coming to the surface so that it may be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thankfulness to Our Lord and Savior through difficult times brings forth His character in us. When we truly trust Him with all of our heart we can come to Him and say Lord, help me through this, I am not doing so well, I need Your Spirit's help. I can honestly say He has answered me everytime. I am amazed at His faithfulness, I am amazed at His patience with me, I am overwhelmed by His love. I am thankful for being in a situation that makes me call on His name for everything I need every minute of the day. I might have never known how close He is in times of trouble, in times of sickness, in times of despair had I not had to walk through this battle with Shingles.

The love of Jesus Christ is perfect love and it casts out all fear. He has been there with me since the day I got sick, He has kept me, He has poured His Spirit out upon me and He has given me songs every morning. He has taught me love and compassion for others through this trial and is changing my heart everyday. If I ever wanted to know how much of my self-serving attitude was in me Shingles has bought it to the surface. In the same context if I ever wanted to know how faithful the Lord is through all things, Shingles has been the instrument used to cast me upon His love more than ever before. I need Jesus every second of the day, through every trial and tribulation and through this I have learned He has been, always will be, and is ever present with me. I have learned I have much to be thankful for. I have a relationship with the Savior of the world that carries me through every trial of life. I have a God who loves me in spite of myself and my actions. I know the Lord will heal me but I will never forget what I have learned through this and I will always be thankful to Jesus for standing with me through it. If you are in pain, if you are suffering, if you wonder how you can give thanks with all that is going on in your life I pray this article helps you. I pray you will know Jesus is there with you through it all. I pray for all of us to have a grateful heart to the One who loved us so much He endured more than we ever could and He did it for us. Jesus loves you my friend. Let us give Him thanks today.