I posted on my Facebook profile something that I heard my mother say years ago. “Some days are ‘thank you Lord’ days, and some days are ‘thank you Lord anyway’ days”.
My middle daughter is visiting and she asked, “just what does that mean, mom?” Well, I’ll tell you what it means. It means sometimes life is hard. Some days life hurts.
Some days there are more bills than money. Some days our plans don’t work out. Some days we struggle to communicate with those we love. Some days the medical test don’t have the answers we want. Some days we wonder if we’re lovable. Some days our jobs seem too stressful. Some days what we see in the mirror isn’t too pretty. Some days we have no control. Some days waiting seems like forever. Some days the pain won’t stop.
And on those days, I bow my head and take a moment (sometimes many) and say “thank you Lord, thank you anyway”. “Thank you for life, thank you for pain, thank you for disappointment, thank you for struggle”, because in all these things I know that I am growing stronger. I know that I am growing better. And I know that my strength comes from Him.
I know this is true. If we don’t enter the valley, if we don’t know what it is to be at the bottom of the mountain, the view from the mountaintop could never be as beautiful. If we don’t know defeat, if we don’t know loss, then winning could never be as sweet.
I’ve been at the bottom of the mountain. I’ve asked “from whence does my help come?” And the answer is “from the Lord”. I’ve seen the answers, I’ve felt the awesome sense of relief and joy. And I know that God provided the answers and allowed me to walk through the valley to get to them.
For years I’ve had back pain, since March it’s been chronic pain, and this past week it’s been practically unbearable. And today I cry out to God, “thank you Lord, anyway…thank you for the blessings and thank you for the lessons”.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus–1 Thessalonians 5:16
Praying continually for all of you and wishing you love, peace and joy.
49andcounting 
praying for you, sweet friend! I enjoy reading your blog, and I don’t always leave a comment, but just wanted you to know that I’m lifting you up in prayer today! Looking forward to the blog entitled, “I’ve been healed”! Love you!
Thank you, sweet thing. I need your prayers.
I found your blog through a comment you’d left on NotQuiteOld. I just wanted to say how nice it was to read your perspective of leaning on God in the tough times. It was such a great reminder.
I just smiled to myself… having finished reading the book of Job in my quiet time, I have been mulling over the fact that he really seemed to struggle with finding that “thank you Lord, anyway” perspective. Not that I blame him! If I were in his shoes, I can’t say that I’d do anywhere near as well as he did. Job felt like he was being unjustly punished for something he didn’t do. (How often have I done the same thing…)
When God allowed the evil one to take away all of Job’s blessings, God told the evil one that Job would bless him, no matter what. And He was right; Job never cursed God like his wife suggested. So when God confronted him about his prideful attitude, he realized what he’d been saying – and apologized with sincerity. I think both of those things made God pretty happy Must have, because Job got all his blessings back, and then some.
Sometimes the purpose of our limitations is to keep us humble enough to gladly say “thank you, anyway.” I think a sweeter scent is sent to Heaven in thanks that are borne out of trial.
Funny how God works. I needed this today.
Thanks Mom.