Joseph's Healing of Memories (Part 3)

THANK GOD FOR THE GIFTS AND BLESSINGS.

In Genesis 45, Joseph was talking to his brothers more than 20 years after they mistreated him. He pointed out that God had sent him ahead to save their lives. He was merely making statements of fact, not bragging or boasting. Joseph was in effect thanking God for the good things God has given him inspite of what happened.

That is what I had to do lately. I had to quit mourning over some loss and start thanking God for His gifts and blessings. I thank God for an ability to shoot basketball more skillfully than others. I thank Him for giving me an intellectual capacity to write and grasp deeper insights. I thank Him for being able to preach and teach again, that people say they want to hear again. A list could go on.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this kind of thankfulness. He said in 1 Thessalonians 5, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We can thank God with joy no matter how painful the memories are. We can praise Him even more, believing that all things work together for good. As Romans 8:28 states, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Thank God for His gifts and blessings. Trusting God for the good in any situation brings healing to the pain in memories.