GratitudeSample

### Gratitude and Sexual Brokenness Not many people would think of putting these two terms together. Gratitude and sexual brokenness are opposites in many ways. For many of us who struggle with sexual brokenness, using fantasy and sexually acting out are ways to escape our painful reality. They are solely focused on the painful parts of our lives and working to medicate them. In sexual brokenness, we dwell on what we do not have. We identify all the ways we feel God is not providing. Yet this strategy ultimately leads us to an even worse reality: bitterness, greater isolation, and damaged relationships. Acting out disconnects us from ourselves, God, and others. Sexual brokenness dislocates us from our present reality, causing us to live in the past or fantasize about the future rather than face what today brings. Gratitude, in contrast to sexual brokenness, leads us to recognize what we do have. It plants us in the present. It requires we observe and acknowledge the people and things in our lives that we’re thankful for—right now, today. Gratitude is grounded in reality. That’s the only place where real transformation can happen. That’s where God wants us to be. Simply put, gratitude is about focusing on what’s good in our lives and being thankful for what we have. It’s identifying God’s blessing and provision in our lives. It’s a recognition of who God is and what He has done. It isn’t always easy. At 20 years old, when I was diagnosed with a chronic disease, it would have been easy to feel sorry for myself. I could have focused on the negative aspects and outcomes to come. I remember praying that God would help me to maintain my perspective. I wanted to trust His plans far beyond what I could see on difficult days. I did not want to become hardened and embittered. God was faithful in answering my prayer. Whether our struggles are with illness or addiction, God cares for us. He gives us strategies to help us grow. If we want to leverage gratitude and its transformative powers, we need to practice it. Instead of seeking ways to escape, act out, and fantasize, turn away from sexual brokenness by seeking God’s help and strength.