Looking Back With Gratitude
I’m a little late in getting this post written and posted since we’re already into February. Even though this is a bit of a “year in review” post, I feel like some of the elements and principles discussed may still be useful for some people regardless of the time of year. My aim with this post is to encourage people to find the good in the midst of the bad, even when the bad seems to stand out more than the good. It’s about looking back with gratitude.
Gratitude in the negative circumstances
As is typical at the end of the year, I look over the previous year and take some time praying about what God might have me focus on in the upcoming year. When looking back, it seemed like the “bad” or negative things stood out the most. 2022 was a very heavy year. However, I’ve been convicted and reminded that it’s important to not just focus on the bad. It’s essential to look at the good too and be thankful.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT)
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
“Do everything without complaining and arguing” Philippians 2:14 (NLT)
I’ve written recently, that gratitude can affect our hearts and our perspectives. I’ve learned that stewing in negativity and focusing on the negative will make me bitter. It can also cause a spiritual blockage which can in turn be offensive to others and to God.
However, when I can shift my mind from the negative things happening in my life and intentionally focus on gratitude, a positive internal shift happens. Looking back with gratitude and thankfulness can lighten the load and help things seem a little brighter and less dark. Additionally, choosing to see God’s provision can alleviate some frustration and discontent.
Encourage yourself
There have been several times that I’ve had to go back and re-read my own posts. Some of the same advice I give to others, I need to take myself. I’ve learned, and re-learned, that I need to encourage myself in the Lord as David did when he was greatly distressed.
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
To encourage myself I can remind myself of where God has been faithful in the past and look at the good He was doing even in the midst of bad things going on around me. Another helpful reminder has been not to overlook or “despise” the small things.
“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Zechariah 4:10 (NIV)
So as I look over the past year, even though we endured a lot of bad and negative circumstances, we continued to see God’s faithfulness, feel his presence, and retain and/or renew our hope (even though some situations are still ongoing). There was so much good to be found through it all, and I have to remind myself of that (sometimes repeatedly).
Looking back over 2022…the bad AND the good
Worst teaching semester ever
Over the summer, I encountered my worst semester of teaching…ever. The whole situation was a perfect storm of bad circumstances. Ultimately, let’s just say post-COVID teaching (combined with the atrophy of social & emotional skills of students, the mentality of upcoming generations, and a lack of support for educators by administration) is not for the faint of heart.
Additionally, over the summer I learned that the fall semester would include a complete curriculum change for the course I teach. Unfortunately, this is something that happens often. In the midst of recoiling at the thought of going to class each morning and then dreading the upcoming fall semester, I seriously reconsidered my calling as a teacher and contemplated whether it was something that I wanted to continue to do. I’ve actually written about this before when I also encountered a significantly difficult semester.
Looking back with gratitude
God sustained and strengthen me and my resolve during that time. By faith, I’m believing that I did make a difference in the lives of some of those students. I also believe that I was able to communicate with college leadership and illuminate some inefficient and malfunctioning processes, and since then some changes have been made.
Furthermore, I had some favor for the fall semester. After some additional conversations with leadership, I was able to maintain some autonomy and prep for the upcoming fall semester by only making minimal changes. This relieved a tremendous amount of stress and pressure. It wasn’t going to be near as bad as I had anticipated. The fall semester also provided some excellent students, with minimal problems, which offered a much needed reprieve after the difficult summer courses.
Year of health and medical issues
2022 also delivered my family and I a year of health and medical issues and all that comes with them…complications, caretaking needs, time requirements, financial obligations & burdens, family tensions, expectations, etc. On top of all of that, it included some collateral damage. We had no annual vacation, a summer void of our usual summer & watersport activities, canceled/forgotten/uncelebrated birthdays, a canceled Thanksgiving, and a very abnormal Christmas season missing many of our beloved traditions.
To give you a summary of what we encountered last year…
My husband, Eric, had shoulder surgery in the spring which mandated months of recovery, therapy, and limited activity.
Our biggest blow was learning of my mom’s breast cancer diagnosis in July. This is an ongoing journey as we are still walking her through chemotherapy treatments and radiation later down the road.
In November, my dad (who already has a whole list of medical issues) had a bad fall breaking several of his ribs and puncturing his lungs. This put him in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility for over a month. We also dealt with additional complications while he recovered.
Lastly, I ended up having to have major surgery a few days before Christmas. I’m just now on the tail end of my recovery and restrictions from that.
Looking back with gratitude
Eric’s surgery and recovery went well without any major complications. In fact, he’s even mentioned that his golf game has never been better! 🙂
My mom’s prognosis is very good. From the very beginning, God gave her a peace that everything was going to be okay. Though the road of her cancer treatments has been tough and far from complication free, we are grateful and thankful for the hope that we have for her healing via traditional & holistic medicine and also for healing provided by Jesus (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24). We are also thankful that God is and has been smoothing out the path ahead.
My dad is home now and is doing better each day, with weekly home health care and therapy.
I ended up having so much favor with my surgery. My wonderful doctor (who is also my good friend Elizabeth, a very longtime friend from college) was able to fit my surgery in before the end of the year. This was not only a blessing for insurance/finances because we’d already met our yearly deductible and out-of-pocket maximums due to Eric’s surgery, but it was also a blessing on the timing due to fact that I was in between semesters of teaching and would not need to take additional time off of work. The medical complications I was having should now be resolved, and everything came back benign in pathology. What’s more is that pathology also discovered a medical condition (non-life threatening) that I wasn’t even aware that I had but is now resolved due to having had the surgery.
Other miscellaneous issues
2022 had its fair share of other problems and issues too. There were numerous other difficult and painful personal, family, and church issues with both family and friends, much of which I’m not at liberty to discuss to respect the privacy of others. However, God has and will continue to sustain us through them all.
Looking back with gratitude
I’ve had a sense that all of the aforementioned issues and circumstances have been a season of transition or preparing for transition. Transitions typically tend to be incredibly painful but always birth something new. Fortunately, I can remain optimistic and look forward to God doing something new in my life. **Read this post: Are You Going Through a Transition? Learn how to recognize if something new is about to happen in your life and how to navigate through it.
God’s gentle correction and reminders
Ultimately, God has gently corrected me about my negative attitudes (and about letting my circumstances dictate my thoughts, feelings, and outlook). He’s reminded me, repeatedly, of where He’s been faithful, to look for the good, and to maintain gratitude no matter what. It’s not that I didn’t already know these things…I just needed to be reminded.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 15:33 (NIV)
I’m reminded, again, that as we go into this next year I WILL have trouble, and I need to just come to terms with that. Even as current problems and troubles pass and move on, more will eventually come and follow. HOWEVER, that does NOT mean that I can’t have peace in the midst of the trouble. I can remember that there is victory with Jesus, because he’s already won. Remembering God’s faithfulness and Jesus’ victory will give me peace that I can grab and hold on to.
I love how David Guzik says it…
“Finally, notice that Jesus did not promise peace, but He offered it. He said, “You may have peace.” People can follow Jesus and yet deny themselves that peace. Jesus said, “that in Me you may have peace.” We will not find real peace anywhere else; we find it in Jesus alone. We can predict tribulation. We can look back on the fact that Jesus has overcome the world. When we really receive His victory as our own, we can have peace. That is one prediction we are assured will come true.”[1]
Take Some Practical Steps to Start Looking Back With Gratitude:
-
First, spend some time reflecting on the previous year. Take note of the bad things that stand out (they will probably come to mind first, more than likely).
- Look back over your photo streams from this past year
- Go back through your journal entries
- Browse through your church or sermon notes
- Skim through what reading plans and/or books you read this past year
- Look back through your social media posts
- Revisit your “one word” for the year if you had one
-
Next, as you take stock of your previous year and look forward to this upcoming year, think about lessons God taught you, what he’s reminded you, and/or consider ways God may have been preparing you for this upcoming year.
-
Then, make note of the good in the midst of any of the bad. Write down areas where God was still faithful.
- What has God brought you through, brought you to, or delivered you from this year?
- Have you had any new opportunities presented because of your circumstances this past year?
- What are some areas where your circumstances have caused you to grow (either personally or spiritually)?
- Where did God answer prayers?
- Where did you receive comfort and sustenance even in the midst of seemingly unanswered prayers?
- Name some areas where God provided for you or gave you favor even in the midst of difficulty.
- Which people were you grateful for in the midst of troubles or hard times?
- What lessons will you take away?
- Write down anything else that comes to mind or that the Holy Spirit reminds you of.
“Always remember what you have been taught, and don’t let go of it. Keep all that you have learned; it is the most important thing in life.” Proverbs 4:13 (NCV)
“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 (ESV)
“Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given” Psalm 105:5 (NLT)
“Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced” 1 Chronicles 16:12 (NIV)
-
Finally, spend some time in prayer, and ask God, “What do you want to do in me and through me this year?” Ask God to continue to remind you and point out when he is faithful and to help you keep your eyes focused on the good, even in the midst of bad.
As you are heading into this next year, keep a positive attitude and outlook (avoid spiritual blockages!). Know that you WILL encounter trouble this year, but keep on and don’t give up by remembering that Jesus has already won. Grab hold of the peace that Jesus offers and hold onto it. Then, don’t forget to keep looking back with gratitude!
Where do you need to start looking back with gratitude? What are some of the good things you’ve seen in the midst of the bad? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are rude, disrespectful, sarcastic, offensive, divisive, or off-topic. By posting on this site you agree to my Comment Policy.
P.S. If you liked this post, you might enjoy receiving new posts delivered right to your inbox each week! Sign up here.
If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward! Share this post via the sharing links below. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
- Guzik, David. “God’s Peace in the New Year-Day 5.” Bible.com, Enduring Word Bible Commentary, https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/28692-gods-peace-in-the-new-year/day/5. ↑
