Thankfulness Greater Than Fear

With Halloween just a few days away, I find myself reflecting on a different kind of fear — not the spooky costumes or haunted houses but the fear that has quietly crept into my heart during what should be one of the most joyful seasons of my life. Here I am, newly married, about to move states, buying our first home, starting a new job, and preparing to welcome a little one next June. God has been incredibly generous, pouring blessings upon blessings over me, yet I find myself daily fighting to keep fear from overtaking my thoughts.
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It’s been a true exercise in faith, and through this journey, I’ve started to make a conscious effort to count my blessings each day. Despite my fears, I have absolutely no trouble finding an abundance of things to be grateful for. I have an amazing, godly husband I’m so proud to call mine and our start to marriage has been full of joy, fulfillment, and grace. We’ve been surrounded by an incredibly generous support system that made our wedding and celebration beyond what I ever dreamed. Through God’s provision, we’re moving back to my hometown, surrounded by family, and are closing on our first home together this week. Despite the move, God provided me with a new remote job, giving us stability and peace of mind. And the most incredible blessing of all, we recently discovered that we’re expecting a baby — I’ve always felt that motherhood is my truest calling, but I had accepted long ago that health complications might make my chance at motherhood small and difficult. Despite the odds, God answered our prayers for parenthood. My tally of blessings is already so overwhelming without even acknowledging the daily provisions God lavishes on us of a warm home, a comfortable bed, a full belly and a loving community!

These blessings fill my heart with gratitude, but with each comes its own kind of change and responsibility, sparking an overwhelming sense of responsibility to steward all that God has given us well. Some days, it can be difficult to keep the what-ifs from rising to the surface and overshadowing the greatness of our blessings. What if the move doesn’t go smoothly? What if the demands of my new role become overwhelming and I can’t swing it? What if I can’t juggle it all? What if parenthood comes too quickly and we aren’t as prepared as we think we are? I feel the weight of each new responsibility and the challenge of managing it while maintaining my peace and growing closer to God. And admitting all of this can feel extremely shameful. I am blessed beyond measure - why is thankfulness so much harder to practice than fearfulness in a time where God has shown me again and again that He is a faithful and gracious provider?

Proverbs 3:5-6 has been a guide through these days as I struggle to conquer fear and stay in a mindset of thankfulness: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Fear may come, but faith conquers it every time. And when my heart begins to sink with the fear of not being good enough for His blessings, I will repeat Psalm 7:17: “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.”

As I take the change one day at a time, reminding myself to let go, trust God and treasure the blessings, I hope to make thankfulness a cornerstone of my household.

We all have our seasons of change, and if there’s one thing I want to leave you with this month, it’s this: count your blessings and lean into God’s faithfulness. Whether the blessings are flowing like a river, or hardships seem to abound, our God is directing our paths and being faithful beyond measure.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca took over as the editor of 
Fellowship Focus in 2023 and has enjoyed growing into the role and getting to know members of our churches across the US and Canada. She lives in Cheyenne WY with her two cats and is frequently found at her pottery wheel or tucked into the corner with a good book. ​