Do you believe you were meant to thrive in this life? John 10:10 says:
Thrive is described as – To grow or develop well or vigorously; to prosper; flourish; to gain in wealth or possessions; to progress toward or realize a goal despite of or because of circumstances.
If I was sitting next to you and I asked you this question, “do you think you are thriving in your life,” what would your answer be? Do you find yourself saying things like:
“I survived work this week”
“If I can just make it to the end of the month, or week, or day then……”
“If I could just pay my bills then…..”
“If I could just worry less then…..”
“If I could be more like so and so then….”
“If I could just live somewhere else then……” (I am often caught saying this)
“If only I didn’t have this disease then…….”
If you are plagued by thoughts like the ones above, you are living in a survival mindset and you are not thriving in your life. If we are not careful, this survival mindset will become a roadblock for us and keep us from enjoying the abundant, joyful life God has intended for us to live. Jeremiah 29:11 says:
I have had to use this verse as a life-line many times in my life. When trials or hardships came and I felt myself becoming anxious and having panic attacks, I had to hold on to the promise that God had a good future planned out for me. Even though my situation looked hopeless, and I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, I had to grab hold of the fact that God doesn’t lie and He said that He had plans for a good future for me.
I have said it before, and I’ll say it again; being a pastor’s wife is not an easy role to fill. Some people are able to be in ministry and not experience any type of opposition their whole lives; but, not us. It always seemed like someone was getting their feathers in a ruffle. I can remember one time a deacon came up to me and told me that I was holding my husband back in ministry. I was dumbfounded. I supported my husband in everything and the very fact that I was living far from home should be proof enough that I support him no matter what. But if I am totally honest with you, I wasn’t thriving in my role. I hated it. I hated the negative words coming against my family. I hated the lies and rumors being spread about us. I dreaded going to church every Sunday because the pain far outweighed the blessing. I mean, God was moving and we were experiencing revival but I was stuck in a survival mindset and I couldn’t escape. I longed to get out of ministry and to move back home to be by family because I thought life would be easier. I began to develop chronic panic attacks. It was horrible. If only I could have changed my mindset and gotten out of ministry……..then. I was forfeiting my joy for a survival mindset. You see, I thought that I would have to live like this for the rest of my life. But God began to speak and minister to me and show me how to forgive and heal from the hurt and pain ministry was causing so I could enjoy and live the life He meant for me to live.
God never intended for us to struggle through our lives. We were not made to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. We were not made to be bound by debilitating fear worry and anxiety. He made us to thrive. He wants us to enjoy the life He has given us giving Him all the glory. With God’s help, we can break free from the mindset that we will always have to struggle, fight or battle.
God wants to see us shine like a light. He wants to see us living in the fullness of joy and experiencing strength for our inner man as well as our physical bodies. He wants to see us thrive in every area of our lives.
So I tell you:
Thrive in your emotions
Thrive in your ministry
Thrive in your marriage
Thrive as a parent
Thrive in your health
Don’t allow your present circumstance to dictate how your future is going to turn out. God has a wonderful future in store for you. You only need to hold on and trust Him to carry you through this valley.
God is saying to you today:
You will dream again. The dead places in your life will begin to bloom and give birth to new dreams and new ideas. You will hope again. Joy will fill your walls. God will restore everything the locusts have stolen. You will go out in peace and be led forth in joy.
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
God wants you to thrive. Ask God today to help you see Him in a new way. Ask Him to help you overcome your survival mindset so you can live the abundant life He has planned for you. He can take your situations and cause you to thrive in spite of them. You can have joy in today!
Finding Joy In Today 
Our circumstances are the sum total of life—Jesus is.
LikeLike