Rachel W. Rains quote for Begin Within: Faced with new challenges, we often forget God’s goodness in bringing us out of Egypt, the desert, or whatever proverbial season of "lack" we find ourselves.

Some days, I forget the miracles performed by a benevolent, loving God on my behalf and I focus only on what is lacking in my life. I forget (so easily) all of the blessings, answered prayers, and in the “nick-of-times” God provided during our sudden relocation to Hometown, OK, my mama’s brief cancer journey, a subsequent career sabbatical, and of course, all of it, against the backdrop of a worldwide pandemic. Thankfully, my ingratitude yields itself to a reflective pause and I’m reminded of “the miracle” of manna.

God provided the Israelites, an ungrateful and greedy bunch if ever one existed, manna each and every morning. Oh, how they complained, forgetting the very miracle of having been brought out of Egypt. Yet, in spite of the Israelites’ lack of faith, rebellion, and ingratitude, God remained faithful and provided for their daily needs and from some “unlikely places.”* I don’t know about you, but I see myself in Israel. As I contemplated the powerful demonstration of His love (while exiting the local post office), GRATITUDE, once again, seeped into my veins and overwhelmed me with His unfailing, unfathomable love.

So often I choose to focus on what is seemingly “lacking” in my life, rather than on what God has so graciously and mercifully provided in this new reality of living in Hometown, OK. With new seasons in life, comes new struggles, doubts, and fears. Faced with new challenges, we often forget God’s goodness in bringing us out of Egypt, the desert, or whatever proverbial season of “lack” we find ourselves. And before you know it, our “deliverance gratitude” suddenly has given way to grumbling and complaining.

So often I choose to focus on what is seemingly "lacking" in my life, rather than on what God has so graciously and mercifully provided_Rachel W. Rains quote

The antidote for grumbling

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

God’s love is constant, friends. He never gives up on us—even in our most unlovely seasons. His loving-kindness is unending, unwavering, and unchanging.

As I remind myself of these truths, over and over, TRUST restores itself and settles deep in my soul. For I know the plans He has for me (Jer. 29:11). What joy and peace await me when I choose a posture of gratitude and trust.

The ‘lack’ of new-to-me, small-town living (often) can undo me, and I sometimes lose my way. But thankfully, practicing gratitude points me back (in remembrance) to the abundant, loving ways God has been faithful in the journey.

Practicing gratitude points me back (in remembrance) to the abundant, loving ways God has been faithful in the journey_Rachel W. Rains quote for Begin Within: A Gratitude Series

A prayer for when you feel like complaining

Lord, help me to remember Your faithfulness and goodness—always! Help me to craft a daily practice of gratitude in my life. Guide and direct me in the ways of Your demonstrable, unfathomable love. Teach me to trust my life’s journey in your hands (over and over) showing me the way to live a life that perpetually points to Your glory.

Do you struggle with focusing on what is “lacking” in your life rather than God’s goodness? If so, what steps can you take to overcome your ingratitude and, instead, celebrate God’s goodness in your life?

* The Bible Handbook (The Daily Grace Co., p. 30)

Meet Rachel Rains

Nashville vocal technique coach turned writer/speaker, Rachel W. Rains, helps others love like Jesus in an unlovable world.

Having accepted Christ around the age of five and raised in a family deeply rooted in the Christian faith and a few ‘religious’ beliefs, Nashville vocal technique coach turned writer/speaker, Rachel W. Rains, writes about overcoming the human struggle to love like Jesus in an unlovable world. Currently residing outside of her hometown on the OK/TX border, Rachel finds tremendous joy encouraging and equipping maturing believers in “Living this one life for Kingdom purpose— and loving fiercely!” Especially through the widely shared campaign, [Accept] The Love Challenge.

Stay connected with Rachel through her favorite platform, Instagram. Learn more about accepting the greatest challenge ever issued to mankind and join the quest by claiming your free mini-devotional, The Love Challenge: Overcoming the Struggle to Love an Unlovable World.

Where to find her . . .

Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.

If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.

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Creating Ripples

If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.