Gratitude: Live with the expectation that things will go well - 3 October 2024

A friend and colleague of mine once shared a story about an interview she had with a well-known TV presenter. The presenter mentioned that she lives with the expectation that things will go well. She believes that the right opportunities will come her way, that she and her loved ones will stay healthy and that when she opens her e-mails, there will be good news.

This was such an interesting outlook on life for me – truly fascinating.

On the one hand, it sounds so simple and wonderful. But when you think about it, it can almost seem naive, because life is complicated and we know that things do not always go as planned. Yet, I can’t help but think that this is a wonderful approach – precisely because life is complicated and things do not always go as planned. It is much better to believe that things will go well and turn out right, rather than constantly expecting some sort of catastrophe.

I say this because I often worry about things that have not happened yet and, in most cases, never even come to pass. Have you made that mistake too? Worrying so much about something you fear might happen that you end up feeling completely down about it, only for it not to happen – and things actually work out well in the end?

Just think about how much lighter you would feel if, from the start, you lived as if you knew it would all turn out well, if you believed everything was going to be okay, no matter what. Isn’t that exactly what we, as believers, should be doing?

Believe! Believe that things will go well. Believe that there is a plan for our lives. Believe that there will be a way out when we feel challenged. Believe that God will take care of us.

And isn’t that a wonderful reason to be grateful?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to lift up my heart and believe that you are always there for me and my loved ones. Help me to live this way with a grateful heart. Amen