The Most Powerful Key In All the World
The three of us stood side by side, hardly able to believe we were there. Just behind us a white cardboard box sat prominently on a stone table. My husband’s arm wrapped around my daughter as she leaned into him slightly. My son sat beside his cousin, and my niece’s tears kept her from catching her breath. Both brothers-in-law intently watched their wives. We glanced at each other and smiled.
It’s an unexpectedly beautiful thing to find the presence of God in unthinkably painful situations. Just six months earlier, God prompted me to love well and live fully alive. Not having any idea what this meant, I mentioned it to my sisters who immediately made plans to visit. A few months later, we were together when our Mom received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis at the age of 84.
Gratitude is an enigma
Deep sorrow doesn’t seem like the place where gratitude would naturally be found, but gratitude really is an enigma. We might think it’s like a key to happiness, but happiness is usually only temporary. Gratitude isn’t just for good days. I’ve found gratitude is most powerful when I’m faced with a heavy weight, a burden I don’t want to bear, or a road I don’t want to walk down.
When overwhelm shows up, it’s easy to feel ungrateful. Who wouldn’t want to escape a difficult situation? Yet, these are the places I’ve had the chance to feel the nearness of God, to sense His presence closest to me. These times have narrowed my focus to see what God has already done in my life. To remember the ways He’s been present with me and never left me alone. To remember who He is and what He’s capable of doing. These simple reminders have cultivated gratitude in my life. Rather than thrashing around in panic or searching for a way out, God reminds me to simply take a deep breath and allow Him to settle me.
When I’ve shifted my focus from the fear of what’s right in front of me, to the immeasurable love of God, I’ve surprisingly found strength, hope, and real joy when I’m struggling.
Joy and sorrow can coexist
Right after her diagnosis, my Mom wanted to know when Easter was that year. I thought it was strange how focused she was on Easter. I couldn’t help but think she might not be with us that long, so we celebrated Easter early by dyeing eggs and racing around the backyard for a family egg hunt. My Mom laughed and clapped her hands while she watched from her wheelchair on the patio. My Mom planned something special for all the grandkids and she was able to see their shining eyes as she gave them their gifts. We worked puzzles together and our home was filled with laughter and love and tears.
In all our years together, this was the closest our family had ever been. Joy and sorrow were our companions.
She met Jesus early Easter morning.
The most powerful key in all the world
A spirit of gratitude gives us the ability to experience joy every single day of our lives. If we can simply lift our faces to the Lord and remember His goodness, His love, and His mercy in our lives, then we hold the most powerful key in the world. Gratitude unlocks joy. Instead of being overcome by trauma, loss, or disappointment, our hearts trust God with the outcome, because we know in the depth of our spirit, that God is good. This is the secret of gratitude.
Meet Nicole Williams
Nicole Williams is a writer and poet who loves spice shops, travel, throwing great parties, curling up in Soma pajamas, and a strong cup of black coffee with NY cheesecake! Her passion is influencing people to read the Bible for themselves and her mantra is Love + Mercy Matter Most. She’s the author of RISE UP: Believing God When the World is Falling Apart.
If family relationships are tough for you, grab Nicole’s free guide below; it’s an essential tool to create biblical and practical habits to heal unforgiveness. And be the first to know when the Forgiveness Course launches by joining her free online community.
She’s been married to Lance for 27 years and is mom to two young adults, Hanna and Jack. She calls Houston, TX home.
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.
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.
