You don’t have to dig too deep into my writings to know that I am a dog lover. For some reason I seem to gain spiritual insight from these wonderful creatures. On social media I follow lots of organizations that rescue dogs.

This photo touched my heart.

The photo on the left shows two sweet dogs one hour before they were rescued and adopted. Look at their faces and body language. On the left you see fear and sadness.

After the miracle of rescue you see a total change. They are new creatures full of joy and excitement.

The picture reminded me that I sometimes forget that I was once trapped in that place of fear and sadness. And then I heard the Good News of the Gospel. That Jesus came to forgive me, adopt, and rescue me. My initial photo after having that weight lifted would have resembled those joyful faces on the right. But something happens if we are not careful. We lose the joy of being rescued. We forget what God has done for us and focus on what we want Him to do for us now or get angry about something He didn’t do.

When I do that I am forgetting the miracle and joy of being rescued. God did not have to rescue me. He chose to out of love. And He didn’t just say you are forgiven, good luck, and go on your way. He gave me the mind-boggling promise that I am now His child.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (Romans 8:14-17, NLT)

Are you kidding me? Do we really comprehend the magnitude of that text? We aren’t put in a foster home with the hope someone might come along to rescue us. We are adopted as His own child and become heirs to God’s glory. That hope is my guiding light as I endure the sadness and trials of this world. God’s amazing promise is also framed with honesty about living in a fallen and sinful world. The last part of verse 17 gives us a reality check.

But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Satan comes along and tries to make us focus only on the suffering. He tells us that if God really loved you this wouldn’t be happening. Or how can a loving Father treat His child this way?

Sorry not sorry Satan. Your lies are completely destroyed by the next promise from our Father in Heaven.

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

Our rescue is eternal. Our hope is assured. Whatever difficulties I have to navigate until I make it to my eternal home will be nothing compared to the glory that awaits.

Remind yourself of where you once were and how Jesus came along to rescue you. That should shift your attitude toward gratitude.