The Transformational Power of GratitudeSample

Thrill of Thanks

There are a variety of roller coasters. Some loop, others go backwards. Some are steel, and some are wooden. Some twist and turn, and some just drop straight down.

All the roller coasters in the world are balancing between fun and fright. We call these “thrill rides.” They jolt us around, make us dizzy, twirl our insides all over the place, and mess up our hair. But there is something exciting about the ordeal. There is some joy in the chaos.

Likewise, our lives are like a thrill ride. Circumstances, settings, and seasons twist us around. They plunge us deep and fly us high. Sometimes, our insides feel like they have dropped out. Other times, we are so dizzy that we feel sick. But if we have the correct perspective, the thrill of the ride remains through it all.

Despite this, life is still an incredible journey. It is a gift from God, a never-to-be-repeated experience wherein we get to walk by faith and not by sight. And the key to thriving in a world that can be topsy-turvy is thankfulness.

If we see our fantastic adventure through the eyes of faith, we can give thanks for all things because we understand the incredible privilege we have to participate in the journey on this side of eternity.

The thrill ride of life enriches us in a variety of ways. It challenges and convicts us. It develops character and intimacy through pain and perseverance. It shows us glimpses of glory beyond what we could have imagined. It takes us beyond ourselves while making us deeply aware of ourselves. All of it is an opportunity and a cause for thankfulness.