Even Now, I Still Have a Thank You

Sis, sometimes “thank You” feels too small for everything you’re trying to say.

You look back over what you’ve carried, what you’ve faced, and what you didn’t know how you were going to get through—and the words just don’t seem big enough.

That is where I am as we begin November.

Welcome to Between Us, Sis. I’m Pastor Shelia Blake.

Today, I want to share something personal. Because when I look over this year, I see challenges. I see disappointments. I see things I am still working through. And I see the grace of God.

Recently, I had two of my annual examinations. There is something about waiting for results. You go about your responsibilities. You keep doing what needs to be done. But somewhere in the back of your mind, you know you are waiting for an answer.

Then that phone call comes, and you hear that everything is okay. I cannot fully explain what that meant to me. Lord, thank You.

And when the letter arrived about my second testing, telling me that no cancer was found, I felt that gratitude all over again. Thank You for that answer. Thank You for that moment of relief.

And sis, if your phone call sounded different, I want you to know there is room for you in this conversation. If you are still waiting, still receiving treatment, or still trying to understand what you were told, I am thinking of you, too.

My good news does not mean I prayed better, believed harder, or deserved more. We do not measure someone’s faith by the results they receive. You are worthy of love and care right where you are.

Even today, I heard about a situation that reminded me how quickly life can bring us to prayer. I don’t have to understand everything to know where to place my trust—in God’s capable hands.

Our God is bigger than our issue. Our God is greater than what we can imagine or fully understand. There are no hands more capable than His.

I can be thankful for what God has done and still bring Him the things I am concerned about. My gratitude and my need for Him can exist in the same moment.

First Thessalonians chapter five, verse eighteen says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Giving thanks does not mean I have stopped caring about the things that concern me. It means I am remembering the grace that has brought me this far while I continue to pray.

Proverbs chapter three, verses five and six says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

There are moments when I do not have enough understanding to make everything settle in my mind. But I can turn toward Him. I can pray. I can acknowledge that I need His wisdom. I can listen, receive information, and take the next step available to me.

As I acknowledge Him, I am reminded to pray, to come to Him, and to trust Him with what I cannot control.

And as my birthday approaches, I find myself reflecting on the journey that has brought me here. There are things I understand differently now. A quiet moment means more. Time with family means more.

Recently, I also had the opportunity to visit the Smoky Mountains, somewhere I had never been before. Sis, I was overwhelmed by the beauty. The changing leaves. The mountains. The roads. The cabin where we stayed.

I was grateful that I could go. And once I was there, I was grateful that I could experience it. I kept looking at the handiwork of God. Lord, You made this. And I get to be here to see it.

Sometimes our minds are so full that we pass beauty without really noticing it. But there I was, watching the seasons change, seeing a place I had never seen, and trying to take it all in. That experience stayed with me.

This year has held real financial and emotional challenges. Some things still need attention. Some answers have not come yet. But when I look at my family, consider what God has provided, and recognize where I am in this moment of my journey, I am grateful.

By His grace and His mercy, I can pause and recognize something good.

November makes us think about harvest. And as I reflect, I am asking: What have I received this year that deserves a moment of gratitude?

There was relief after an examination. There was rest in a place I had never visited. There was beauty I could see and appreciate.

Those moments belong in the story of this year, alongside the difficult ones.

Sis, your story may look different. Perhaps today you are thankful for the person sitting beside you in a waiting room. For someone who brought a meal. For the courage to attend an appointment. For one quiet afternoon after a difficult week.

You do not have to make your gratitude sound impressive. And if all you can say today is, “Lord, help me,” you are welcome here, too. I understand that some seasons leave us searching for words.

Let me ask you something gently: Where are you placing your moments of anguish? The problem that follows you into the quiet? The concern about your health, your emotional well-being, your family, or your finances?

Have you tried Jesus? Have you spoken to Him honestly about where you are?

You do not need polished words. You can begin with, “Lord, I am afraid. I do not understand this. Please help me trust You and guide my next step.”

And if you have prayed and are still waiting, this invitation is for you, too. You have not failed because your situation remains difficult. You can keep coming to Him. You can receive the medical care, practical support, and companionship you need while you pray.

Today, I am placing my family in His capable hands. And I am placing my own heart there, too.

Let us pray.

Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for the people who care for us and for the moments that remind us how precious life is. We place our families and the concerns on our hearts in Your capable hands. Please give us wisdom for the next step and strength for the journey.

Be near to every woman listening who is worried about someone she loves. Give strength to those receiving care, comfort to families who are waiting or grieving, and wisdom for the next step. Help us trust You with what we do not understand and recognize the good we can receive today.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Between us, sis, what is one thing you can give thanks for in this moment—and what are you placing in God’s hands today?

Share only what you feel comfortable sharing. You can simply pause and offer your prayer and your thank You privately.

As for me, even now, I still have a thank You.

God loves you, and so do I.