Thank YOU, LORD!
A sure sign of maturity is counting it joy in all circumstances – in every trial.
James starts in J1 with “Count it all joy…” The end of his discourse is that you are perfect, complete (mature), lacking nothing.
Gratitude is an expression of joy, perhaps. I can see through the pain of my circumstances to the beauty that is being formed in me. I can see the hammer that God is forging in the fire that will become His choice weapon in due season.
I am grateful.
Maturity understands that faithful is He who calls you and He will also bring it to pass.
I embrace the trial. I embrace process. The outcome will be fantastic. I trust that God knows what He is doing. He will forge me as He desires. He knows exactly what is needed to bring His purpose to pass. Faithful is He who calls you.
Faith trusts Him to do it. Gratitude is joy being expressed in the trial.
I praise Him because He is simply worthy of that.
I thank Him ahead of time because I know He is good. He is faithful. He will do it. He has spoken.
I dont need to see it yet to have a grateful heart. I just know it will happen because He said so.