God has such a way of giving us an opportunity to practice what He is teaching us. I wrote a post about perspective, and God immediately gave me some real life practice.

My husband is a K9 officer and two weekends ago two handlers that he works with regularly were shot, in two separate encounters. I haven’t had that big of a struggle with fear in a long time, along with a desire to move to Wyoming and become a hermit.

As always, gratitude was the antidote to this spiral. As I was praying, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that we have only purchased 3 pieces of furniture in our home – all of the rest were generous gifts when we came back from the mission field. That God provided then and He would continue to provide.

God has not promised safety or freedom from suffering, but He has promised to never leave me or forsake me, and to prepare a home for me.

How do you practice gratitude? When has gratitude pulled you out of a valley?

“The stars may fall, but God’s promises will stand and be fulfilled.” J. I. Packer

John 14:1-2 NIV
[1] “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. [2] My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?