Despite the fact that birthdays mean we are another year older, I do love birthdays. They often bring us to a place of reflection. For some reason, this has been for me a particularly reflective birthday. As part of this reflection time, God has laid on my heart this day to give away a copy of my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner . Details are at the bottom of my post.
There were many years following my rape that I did not want to live to see my next birthday. Life was just too hard.
BUT GOD!!! His Love and His Word penetrated my heart, healed my soul, and changed my life forever. As I reflect back, I am amazed at how far God has brought me since those dark days of living in a prison of fear and despair. I can now count so many blessings that I never saw through the prison bars.
Yes, it is easy for me to thank God today. Life is good. But I am reminded as I sit with God in His Word today that we are to give thanks in ALL circumstances.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.. Psalm 103:2
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:12
Yes, these words tell us IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCE give thanks, FOR EVERYTHING give thanks, FOREVER give thanks. The emphasis is on time – give thanks all the time, everywhere, NO MATTER WHAT. ALWAYS, UNCEASINGLY, CONTINUALLY.
Give thanks in good times and in bad…in comfort and affliction. How, Lord, how can you ask this when someone loses a spouse or a child, when someone is the victim of a horrific crime, when someone loses a job??
Our God can ask this because He is a GREAT GOD who loves us passionately with a love that is never-ending. He has given us His Word full of promises that, when believed, claimed, and prayed enable us to be thankful in all circumstances.
One verse in particular, Romans 8:28 says,
And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
I KNOW the Truth of this verse. These words mean that ALL things we endure – even the most painful and difficult of circumstances – fit into God’s plan. We may not understand or see it at the time…or ever. But we can trust the Word of our God. A heart of thanksgiving in the midst of these trials recognizes God is in control and TRUSTS Him in the midst.
It is KNOWING and BELIEVING Romans 8:28 that makes living the thankfulness verses possible. We can thank God for everything because we know in all things God works together for our good.
If the Lord brought you here today, I believe it is a divine appointment…a fresh Word He has for you today. He intended these words for you. I pray that He will take His Word and plant it deep in your heart.
If today finds you in a crisis of faith or a struggle so deep you feel as if you cannot escape, I encourage you to read my story. I am a rape survivor, and my book Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner. shares how God took me from victim to victor. You can find it at Amazon or Proverbs 31.
I would like to give a copy of Hidden Joy away. The Lord has burdened my heart that there is a woman out there who needs to know the Truths we have talked about today. Please share my post and this giveaway with your friends. Leave a comment and invite your friends to leave a comment, and I will prayerfully select a winner on Monday. God brought to mind Romans 10:17 as we close
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.
Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story 
All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life (E-Book)
Happy Birthday, Friend!
I love this post and I feel your deep gratitude and love jumping off the screen!
We rejoice with you and for you today…and every day!
You have much for which to be thankful! How beautiful God has made your precious life. Heavenly Father, family, friends. Your life is rich and full.
A passion, a calling, a venue. Huge! So very thankful for all the many ways He has blessed you! Through the pain, He has brought much life and fruit through you.
Happy Birthday!
Love,
Sharon
Wendy – Happy Birthday! I appreciate your confidence in who you are, where you, and how old you are. I like that you posted your age – most women make such a big deal out of.
I really appreciate your post today. The majority of my life (all 26 years =) have been "easy" – no major loses, trauma, or seeming "failures" (you know how we tend to put things on a scale of not so bad to really bad as believers). For the past couple of years, however, I have been processing through my desire to be more focused on my home (no kids), preparing it, myself, and my marriage and figuring out how to still participate financially without overloading myself with a stressful job. So, I work part-time.
Just today I was asked one of what to me is a "sensitive"/dreaded question, "So, you work just part time?" In this day and age not being career oriented, working only part time, without kids is so foreign that most individuals just can not figure out what's "wrong with me". These responses often made me ask, "Is there something wrong with me? Why am I here in life?" These pointed questions are normally followed by, "What do you do with your time?" Which I have had to deal with not feeling accountable to others, feeling like I have to explain myself, feeling like I have to prove that I am worth existing, feeling like I have to prove I still benefit society only working part time (without having kids).
In one of the scriptures you shared the line, " forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.." really resounded in me.
- Don't forget his benefits…how I have forgotten His faithfulness to me and how many times He has answered my prayers. Did I not pray to be here in this part-time position?
-who satisfies your desires with good things…in this time of uncertainty and thoughts of, "I think this is where He has me, I hope this is God's purpose" I have become more skeptical and less fulfilled because I have doubted the source of true satisfaction.
Thanks for such an applicable reminder of how grateful I should be and how I should take time TODAY to remember his benefits!
I hope you have a fabulous birthday!
I woould like to speak with you about giving my 24 year old your book. 6 years ago she was walking into her dorm at college and was sexually assaulted. The man was never caught and she has never recieved help. Her anger toward God is so real. Would this book bring back memories she has suppressed
Hey Wendy:)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU:) Thanks so much again for the encourageing words in your blog and your inspiration in being a Godly women. I wrote down that verse Psalm 103:2 and glued it to my desk so i can see it often. I need that constant reminder some days:)
Great words from Sharonthetruth i agree with all of them and i will say amen:)
God bless you sister in Christ
Lisa
Nova Scotia
Happy Birthday Wendy!!!
I know just who I would give your book to — a woman who is in her own dark corner and fighting hard to see the light. Blessings to you, sweet Wendy, on your birthday. Thank you for sharing your story.
Ann
Happy Birthday sweet sister…
I am praying for you this weekend as you take your message of hope to many. The way you have turned your greatest sorrow into a beautifully healing ministry is such a testimony of the reality of Jesus.
I love you girl.
And I love how you love on women.
I pray you have an absolutley amazing day.
Hi Wendy, I hope you had a great birthday. I already have your book, Danielle actually gave it to me and it was fantastic. I read from your book twice last night during the ladies bible study I teach and it was very powerful. Many of the women expressed interest in your book. They really enjoyed and learned from the two passages I shared. Your book has been such a blessing to me and I think it would bless the socks off each and every woman who reads it.
Jenn
Happy Birthday! I read your posts all the time and you are so inspiring to me! I would love the opportunity to win a copy of your book.
Happy birthday Ms. Wendy!
Many Many Happy Returns of the day ,Happy Birthday Wendy
Hi Wendy,
A happy birthday to you a happy birthday to you, may you feel Jesus near every day of the year, a happy birthday to you a happy birthday to you and the BEST year you've ever had!!!
Just had to share a blessing with you today…I got reversed blessed today…Went to our local Farmers Market today and stopped to buy BBQ sauce (Outstanding) the owner blessed my four boys wih a bag of kettle popcorn and then showed them how to peel apples with an old-fashioned apple peeler and they got to eat one too! God is so cool in the little things!
Wow, thanks for sharing your story. I'm gonna post on FB to my friends…blessings
Deb
Hi Wendy,
I was at your conference on Saturday and heard you speak, you were amazing. Happy Birthday last week. I almost share the same birhtday, mine being a day later.
Thank you for touching so many people's lives and teaching them the power of God and sharing your story. I am getting a couple copies of the DVD's from Saturday because I have a few friends who really need to hear what you have to say.
I am not posting a comment to be selected to receive your book, I know other people need it much more than I do. I just wanted to post to tell you Thank you for touching my life.
J. Mitchell
Happy Birthday!
Though I have never walked the path of recovering from rape, I have walked a path of recovering from sexual abuse.
Now I know the truth and it has set me free indeed.
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca