Am I Really Grateful?
By Rose Romatzick
I wouldn’t say I’m ungrateful, but then again, maybe I should …
If you asked me to tell you what I was grateful for, I could probably come up with a substantial list. This time of year often gives us opportunities to think about those things and offer up a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord. We know He has been good and has blessed us with many things, but how is that translating in our everyday lives? When I ask myself that question it makes me wonder if I am really all that grateful.
In a world with so many “good” things, I find myself longing for more and this longing keeps me discontent, distracted, and ungrateful for all that I already have. What is it that I am longing for? What is it that we all long for? Relationships? Intimacy? Belonging? Feeling known? Maybe all these things? Maybe they are all really the same thing?
Nothing in this world will satisfy us. There is no one fix to all of life’s problems and even in the things that provide some type of satisfaction, it is never quite enough; it never lasts.
The author of Hebrews tells us to look to Jesus, “the founder and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Or as the hymn goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face.” Only there will we find true satisfaction that lasts.
So how do we look to Jesus? The writer of Hebrews gives us some advice here. He says, “consider him.” To consider means to examine or to meditate on. Spend time thinking about Jesus. Not just who you think he is or what you have heard about him, but really what his Word tells us about him. In Hebrews 12:3, we read that he endured hostility against himself so that we (followers of Christ) would not grow weary or fainthearted.
As we move into this season of thanksgiving, let us meditate on and think about our Christ, who endured hostility so that we would not grow weary – what a thought! What a Savior! May we grow increasingly thankful to him so that everything else fades into the background and he becomes our focus.
Rose Romatzick serves as the Women’s Ministry Director at Liberty Community Church in North Haven, CT, where she is passionate about helping women grow spiritually and deepen their love for God’s Word. With a heart for building authentic relationships, she loves encouraging women to walk closely with Jesus and grow in a faith that is both deeply personal and anchored in Scripture.
Rose is committed to aid women in their understanding of Scripture, helping them to confidently engage with God’s Word. Through teaching, discipleship and Christ-centered community, she aims to help women cultivate strong biblical foundations and apply truth to every area of life.