Thankful for simple truths.

One of my favourite things to do, and something I should really do more often, is keep a list of things I am thankful for every day in my journal. I just number them throughout the year and it's such a simple but great way of 'counting my blessings' and of reminding myself of how good God is and how much He cares for us in our daily lives. It seems ridiculous to have to remind yourself of how good God is but it's something I so often forget in my thinking. I must confess that one of my least favourite songs to sing in church is 'God is good all the time'. I'm not quite sure what it is about the song that just makes me cringe, but I'm really not a fan. However the simple words of the song do ring true, God is good all the time.
One of the best parts about it though is looking over past journals and seeing the ways that God has always been there and the way He has answered prayers. He walks with us every step of the way. Again, it's such a simple truth but one we cannot help but marvel at. We never have to do it on our own, in fact we shouldn't.
I'm always one for reflecting on time apparently and a couple of days ago marked the 'anniversary' of me leaving Thailand. I genuinely cannot believe it's been a whole year since I left, and it's not been the easiest year, but no year is. In typical Lucy fashion I kind of thought this year would be a breeze spiritually. Obviously the whole making friends business, settling into university and getting used to studying again would prove tricky but I kind of just thought that I would keep growing in my faith without really having to do anything. I grew so much while I was away and I knew God wasn't done, but I guess in some ways I thought  I was over the 'hill' if that makes sense? I laugh now when I look back, and I don't think I ever realised this was how I was thinking, but I pretty much thought I was doing great. Rookie mistake. But in all of God's goodness and His grace, He walked with me and brought me back down on my knees. It's such a beautiful image when we think of bowing before our Lord, but the way down isn't always so appealing and it often takes a few blows to the ego before we realise where we need to be. I'm still being brought to my knees day after day, and most of the time I come reluctantly - but how incredible that God doesn't give up on us! He desires for us to come to Him but He meets us where we are.
In His faithfulness God has continued to teach me and grow me this year, but it has been in the simple truths that I have learnt the most. He is good, He is faithful, He is constant and He is just. I can rest in His promises because I am a loved child of God, righteous in His sight because of Jesus. These are words we hear all the time yet so often we don't let them truly sink in and rest in our hearts. But as I said, God doesn't give up on us and I don't think He will ever tire of teaching us more of His great love and showing us more of Him.

I'm also thankful for the fact that when I typed in thankful into pinterest, this is what came up. People are fun!