Praise God for the Work He Does for Others

I definitely don't do this enough

We’ve likely all heard social media described as a highlight reel.

Most of the time, people only post the big life events, the moments worth celebrating. The engagements, weddings, new babies, new houses, new jobs, fun trips, fun projects—anything that makes you want to say, look at this!!

Because it’s fun to invite people into our joy, to hear well wishes from friends near and far. It’s fun to stay connected to people you might not otherwise hear from.

That being said, it can also be tough to see the highlight reels. To log on and see a stream of successes, especially on days when you’re not feeling quite so successful; to muster up the joy to celebrate yet another friend when you haven’t had anything to celebrate in a while. It is easy to get dragged down by comparison and let a tool designed for connection become a tool for your own destruction.

And while it’s normal, human, to compare ourselves to others—to worry we’re not in the right place, to wonder what on earth we’re doing, to wish for things to add to our own highlight reel—it’s also important to celebrate the work God is doing for others.

Because like this devotional so boldly asked, “How often do you thank God for what He does for others?”

*gulp*

How often do you, like me, feel a genuine sense of elation for a friend or family member and offer honest words of celebration, before switching into a mindset of, “and where’s mine, God?”

Where’s my answered prayer? Where’s my unexpected blessing? Where’s my big, exciting change?

How often do we let our mind flip into bitterness rather than savor that moment of celebration?

How often do we take a second to thank God for answering someone’s prayer, for allowing them to rest in the relief of confirmation and contentment, and to dance in the presence of uncontainable joy?

How quickly do we ask, “what about ME?”

It is hard to feel like everyone else is moving forward while we’re standing still, it is hard to feel like God is working and moving in everyone else’s lives but ours, it is hard to feel like good things fall into the laps of those around us while we have to climb to the highest branch of the tallest tree to find fruit—but the hardest thing to have in this life is faith, and our opportunities to renew that faith are all around us, every day.

They are in the engagements, weddings, new babies, new houses, new jobs, fun trips, and fun projects. They are in the conversations with friends, family members, acquaintances, and strangers.

There He is!! There’s God! Working and moving.

There’s God, answering prayers.

There’s God, pouring out blessings.

You might have a question you’ve wanted answered for a very long time, you might feel worn down by determined discouragement, you might have envy and comparison slithering up from the ground, threatening to swallow you whole—but the proof that God moves in mysterious ways is right there in someone else’s joy, the proof that God answers prayer is right there in someone else’s praise, the proof that God hears you, sees you, and is stitching good things together for you is right there in the testimonies of those closest to you.

So celebrate!

Celebrate the blessings and miracles you see in the lives of others. Celebrate the answered prayers, the restoring of faith, and the genuine joy touching their lives, both because it feels good to praise God and to see evidence of his work, and because highlighting these works acts as assurance for your doubtful days, and encouragement in your waiting seasons.

There. He. Is.

And isn’t it a blessing to see Him work?