There is a classic hymn that echoes:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
It is far easier to read about, sing about, or even talk about this practice than it is to live it out. As someone who has struggled with negative thinking, anxiety, insecurity, and a host of other wrong (perhaps even sinful) mindsets, I know it is so easy to get stuck in a rut. Perhaps if you are like me, today you are finding it a struggle to find joy, peace, and thankfulness… I hope you’ll keep reading.
Sometime ago, I was reading a book dealing with a totally different issue. My original intention was to mentor and disciple someone walking through a struggle of their own. As I read, this thought occurred to me: God’s Word will never call us to do what the Holy Spirit will not empower us to do. Some of you might read that and think, “duh Daniel!” But for me, and still for others reading this, that might be a life transforming truth we need to meditate on.
If it is true that the Holy Spirit can empower us to live the lives that God’s Word calls us to, we are reminded of several important truths. First, that means we don’t have to (and honestly can’t) do it on our own. Thank God we don’t have to do it on our own! Next, we can (and should) live lives that reflect God’s will for us. This means that those things that don’t come naturally (joy, peace, thankfulness) don’t have to be conjured up in us, but can be ours through our reliance and trust on our helper and comforter (the Holy Spirit).
I read somewhere that it is impossible for gratitude and anxiety to co-exist. Although the science is still out on that statement, I do find in my own life that as I begin to thank God, remember His faithfulness and promises, and as I praise and worship Him, and as I begin to preach the Gospel to myself, my greatest fears, insecurities, and anxieties lose their power and grip over my life.
In John 15:4, Jesus makes this incredible statement: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” Jesus goes on in the very next verse to warn us that apart from Him we can “do nothing.” Jesus isn’t saying that we can’t do anything apart from Him, He is saying that apart from Him we can do nothing of lasting significance or eternal value. It is impossible to bear the fruit that God wants for our lives (and deep down we long for), without intentionally, regularly, humbly, faithfully spending time with Jesus.
The Scripture describes the fruit of the Spirit, that is the resulting experience of the Spirit of God dwelling in us and us walking with Him, like this: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV) Read that list again. Go back and read it one more time. In my own experience, I know that I have longed for that type of Christ centered, Holy Spirit empowered life. Spoiler alert: Without the new life that comes only through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and without abiding in Christ as His disciple, we cannot experience that type of satisfied life.
I want to leave you with this reminder, grumbling and disputing are not spiritual gifts. We are called to love others like Christ loved us (John 13:34-35). We are called to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all circumstances knowing this is the will of God for us in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). If you are like me, you just realized that you are woefully inadequate to live your life like this. We all need the life transforming, live saving grace of Christ and His daily help to live out the new life God call us to.
As you pray and think about these things, remember: God’s Word will not call you to what God’s Spirit won’t empower you to.
