Thankfulness + Psalm 13

Hey friends, this week I’m coming to you with a gratitude list. This week I have a lot of exams, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed and run down with worry, comparison, “should haves,” overwhelm, etc. etc.

etc. But I actually have a lot to be grateful for. I hope my list will inspire you to look for the good in your life too.

I’m grateful for ....

1. The fact that I’m a college kid. I used to dream of being here. And now I’m here! And I’ll get to tell my kids about it one day!

2. My love for writing about how God has worked in my life. To write, though, you need a story. And God has given me lots.

3. Finally realizing that every stage of life will bring challenges of all kinds. I will always have to choose to live above the overwhelm.

4. A mom who prays for me !!!

5. A dad who is loyal + hardworking + is usually in a good mood even when I am not lol

6. A sister to do life with

7. Lots of little cousins to watch grow up

8. Today’s bright blue sky

9. Little moments of peace & mental clarity throughout the day

10. How much my faith grew between 2019-2021. What I learned about Jesus and the passion I developed during that time of my life continues to steady me today

11. Being surrounded by such talented people at college.

12. Always having reality to come back to when I spend too much time between my own two ears.

13. The knowledge that God’s not done with me.

14. God’s timing, which is always intentional.

15. The fact that God first loved me.

16. That heaven is for real & I get to go there!

17. No guilt in life & no fear of death because of Jesus

18. The bible- a love letter from Jesus!

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One day this week I found myself in Psalm 13. I sometimes long for the day of “arriving.” I sometimes let myself feel inadequate or unworthy of where I am in my faith and how much I don’t measure up.

When my emotions try to overtake me though, I know I can go the psalms for relatability. David always told it how it was. He was so raw and real with God.

While I wish to always be happy and carefree, this isn’t reality. Luckily, like David, I can take my messy emotions straight to Jesus. In this psalm, David starts off in a fit of discouragement, longing, and desperation. He might have even been having a panic attack/depressive episode. He was in a low state. But he honestly brought his emotions to God. And by the end of the chapter, He is praising God and declaring his unfailing love.

Looking back on my old prayers that I’ve written, I find that many follow this theme. When we come to God with all of ourselves, He can reshape our hearts and minds to give us the glimmer or downpour pf hope we need to endure whatever we face.

PSALM 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Jesus, help us be thankful this week. Give us focus, peace of mind, clarity, and confidence. Help us take all our emotions to You. Give us the strength and ability to release every one of our cares to You. As we do this, give them back, reformed and remade according to your better vision, or do not give them back at all. We love you!

Amen.

- bailee chavez ❤️