Thanks Be to God for Causing Us to Triumph
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
A prolonged stay in the waiting room can be frustrating. It seems like other patients receive help before us at the GP. Even if you’re on time, a latecomer gets to see the doctor before you. The couple that ordered food after you got their served first. The pizza delivery man always seems to delay. And the traffic lanes during rush hour never end.
Waiting is tough.
Waiting is draining.
Waiting can make us desperate.
This is true both in our daily natural experiences and in our spiritual walk with God.
Don’t wait for the triumph before giving thanks
Waiting can make us frustrated and impatient. We question why things are taking so long and why we are being overlooked. At times, we abandon our efforts or seek alternative means to achieve our goals.
When it comes to miracles, spiritual blessings, and thinks we expect God to do for us, prolonged waiting can cause us to give up. We believe God doesn’t want to give it to us or think we don’t deserve it.
But in the midst of our waiting, the apostle Paul reminds us to give thanks. Thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ. It’s easy to thank God when we see the victory, when we see the answers to our prayers and the fulfillment of our desires. But Paul encourages us to give thanks even before the triumph is evident.
Why should we give thanks in the waiting? Because God is at work, even when we can’t see it. He is orchestrating events, aligning circumstances, and preparing the way for our triumph. Our waiting is not in vain, but a part of the process that leads us to victory.
Moreover, giving thanks in the waiting shifts our focus from our own frustrations to the faithfulness and goodness of God. It reminds us He is in control and that His plans are perfect. It also cultivates a heart of gratitude, which is essential in our journey of faith.
So, let us not wait for the triumph to come before we give thanks. Instead, let us offer our gratitude to God in every circumstance, knowing that He is causing us to triumph in Christ.
As we do so, we will experience His peace, joy, and strength amid our waiting.
Believing is seeing
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me”. John 20:29 (NLT)
God’s Word tells us to believe that God will give us triumph in the end, while we should give thanks before getting the victory. In the same vein, the verse in John 20:29 tells us to believe before we see any result. Christ Jesus adds to it we will be blessed if we believe before we see the result.
When we are in a prolonged waiting period, it can be very hard to believe. As each day we don’t see getting materialized what we are expecting. With every day this goes on, it becomes more difficult to believe without seeing.
Moreover, as human beings, we want to see things before we believe. It seems we are wired that way. Yet God expects us to do the opposite—believe before seeing. As hard as it may look, it is not impossible—because God doesn’t expect us to do anything that He knows we can’t do. He will give us the strength to go on and believe Him without seeing.
As much as God gives us that ability, we need to accept it. We need to be obedient and act on what God’s Word tells us to do. An act of faith can be as simple as thanking God, even if we don’t feel thankfulness in our hearts. If we keep thanking God, we are obedient, and by and by,our hearts will be filled with thankfulness.
There is another reason we should continue with faith while in our waiting period.
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
Having faith and believing in God’s promises is crucial, especially during times of waiting and uncertainty. It may be challenging to maintain faith when we don’t see immediate results or when our circumstances seem contrary to what we believe. However, God calls us to trust Him and believe in His goodness, even when we can’t see the outcome.
In the midst of waiting, it is important to give thanks to God. Expressing gratitude shifts our focus from our own frustrations to acknowledging God’s faithfulness and sovereignty. It reminds us He is in control and will reward us. Our waiting is not in vain, but a necessary part of the process that leads to victory.
We should not wait for the triumph to come before offering our thanks. Instead, let us cultivate a heart of gratitude and offer our gratitude to God in every circumstance. This act of faith showsour trust in His plans and His perfect timing. It aligns our hearts with His will and opens us up to experiencing His peace, joy, and strength, even during waiting.
Believing without seeing is a powerful act of faith. While it may be difficult to believe when we don’t see immediate results, God calls us to trust Him and have faith in His promises. He rewards those who sincerely seek Him and trust in His existence.
In your waiting, hold on to faith and trust in God’s faithfulness. Believe before you see, knowing that He is working all things together for your good. As you continue to believe and give thanks, you will experience the blessings and triumph that God has prepared for you.
How do we practice giving thanks before we see results?
So, how do we do that? Giving thanks before we reap the victory? Naturally, we wouldn’t be thankful for things we haven’t received yet. No one can blame you if you are frustrated and feel stuck in your ‘waiting room.’
But if you give it an honest look, does being frustrated help? Most likely you will say “no.” For your own sake, it is also better to focus on God and give thanks while you are waiting. Instead of having a pity party.
Here are 17 things you can do to help you give thanks before you receive what you are waiting for:
1) Focus on God: Shift your focus to God’s abilities, not on your capabilities. After all, we can’t do anything without Him. And every good gift we receive comes from Him.
2) Trust God: Give it over to Him. This sounds easier than it is—I agree with that. But by grace, we are able. Trusting God will bring peace in our hearts and will make the wait easier. With trust in our hearts, we can give God the glory and thank Him already for everything He is going to do.
3) Meditation: Christian meditation can help you focus on the now and cultivate a sense of gratitude.
4) Bible reading: Study the Bible for yourself. Read passages about your specific situation with encouraging verses. Look for examples of when God did for others exactly what you are expecting Him to do for you.
5) Create a Gratitude Journal: Keep a journal in which you regularly write things you are grateful for. It can be as simple as acknowledging the positive aspects of your life.
6) Set Positive Intentions: When you’re waiting for something, set positive intentions for the outcome. Visualize the best possible scenario and express thanks in advance for it.
7) Distract Yourself Positively: Engage in activities that make the waiting time feel productive or enjoyable. For example, read a book, listen to Gospel music, or engage in a hobby.
8) Count Your Blessings: Let thankfulness grow in your heart by thinking of everything God already did. Remind yourself of the positive aspects of your life, relationships, and experiences. This can put your current situation in perspective and promote gratitude.
9) Share Your Gratitude: Express your gratitude to others. It can be as simple as saying “thank you” to the people around you or sharing your feelings of gratitude with friends and family.
10) Help Others: Sometimes, helping others in need can remind you of the things you have to be grateful for and shift your focus from waiting to giving.
11) Mindset Shift: Shift your perspective from viewing waiting as a negative experience to an opportunity for reflection, self-improvement, or rest. And above all, shift your mind from yourself and your inabilities to God and His capabilities.
12) Affirmations: Use Biblical affirmations to remind yourself of the things you’re thankful for and the positive outcome you’re expecting. Choose to say a thankful declaration in the morning during your Christian morning routine.
13) Practice Patience: Understand that waiting is a part of life and practice patience. Remind yourself that good things come to those who wait.
14) Envision Success: If you’re waiting for a specific outcome, visualize success and express gratitude to God for achieving your goal.
15) Stay Optimistic: Maintain an optimistic outlook on the situation. Believing that things will work out for the best can make it easier to be thankful. After all, God’s Word says He will cause us to triumph.
16) Reflect on Past Blessings: Think about past times when you were waiting for something and it turned out well. This can boost your confidence and gratitude.
17) Learn from the Experience: Consider what you can learn or gain from the waiting period. Sometimes, the process itself can be valuable.
Take-away
Waiting can be a challenging experience in both our natural daily lives and our spiritual journey. It emphasizes the importance of giving thanks to God even before we see the desired triumph or results. This act of gratitude shifts our focus from frustration to faith and aligns us with God’s plan.
Believing in God’s promises and giving thanks during the waiting period is a powerful way to maintain a positive and patient mindset. Take a step, and apply the practical tips to help youcultivate a thankful heart while waiting, ultimately leading to peace, joy, and strength in your journey of faith.
God will cause you to triumph. There is no doubt about it—He has promised.
God bless you during your waiting period.
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