If you need a reminder that God can use you right where you are, and you’d rather listen than read today, press play and let this one meet you where you are.

“ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Phillippians 4:11-13

What often keeps us from being a blessing to others isn’t a lack of desire, it’s how we see ourselves. When we’re stuck in criticism of our own gifts or of what God has given, we hold back. We think, “if only I had…” or “if only I was…”, but Gratitude resets our perspective. It helps us see our gifts as good, given by God, and enough to bless others.

Gratitude has a way of making even the smallest, most imperfect offerings holy. The enemy will tell you otherwise. You know that whisper that you’re not enough. That your space isn’t big enough, your words not eloquent enough, your gift not meaningful enough. But the truth is, God doesn’t need perfection to move through you. He just needs your heart…open, willing, and grateful.

I remember when Lance and I first got married. We didn’t have much. The best we could afford was a single-wide trailer in the largest trailer park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I painted the walls, picked out a few pieces of furniture from Rooms to Go, and made it ours. The kitchen nook was only big enough for a tiny bistro table, but I still squeezed four chairs around it…just in case someone came over

But I rarely invited anyone. It didn’t feel “ready.” I thought my home had to be Pinterest-worthy to be used by God.

Until I went on a mission trip to Honduras. This wasn’t a scheduled, polished trip. It was behind-the-scenes ministry work with a local missionary, and we were invited into people’s homes along the way. To me, some of them didn’t even feel like homes…just sheds with dirt floors, hammocks for beds, and a small cooktop balancing on a bucket. But they opened their doors with joy. They weren’t apologizing for what was missing. They were grateful we came, and their hospitality overflowed from hearts that were full, not houses that were fancy.

When I came home, I realized that Honduras taught me this: a grateful heart makes more room for people than a perfect house ever will. I saw our little trailer differently. It was a gift…not something to hide, but something to use. So we hosted our first dinner and game night for a few church friends, including our pastor and his wife. We pulled out a folding table and set it up right in the living room. I’m sure it looked tacky. But we laughed, we played, and we made memories that stuck for years.

That year, I started a tradition called Feliz Navidad. It began as a small family dinner…something fun and different so it wouldn’t compete with Christmas food. Over time, it grew into one of our most favorite gatherings. Now, sixteen years later, it’s a full celebration that continues to anchor us with joy and memories.

I’d love to tell you I never slipped back into self-criticism. But I do. Sometimes I get caught up in appearances. I wear myself out with performance and production. I push through the gathering only to collapse afterward, exhausted and disconnected.

That’s why I’m sharing this today, a reminder before we go into the holidays… Hospitality doesn’t begin at the door: it begins in the heart.

You don’t need a house full of people to be a blessing. Sometimes it’s a soft word. A thoughtful text. A listening ear. A heart that’s open is a home all its own.

And here’s the freedom: this truth isn’t limited to hosting. Gratitude makes room in every corner of life. You can bless someone in a carpool line, a classroom, a checkout lane, or even in the way you send a text. The blessing isn’t tied to your dining room, it flows from a posture of love wherever you are.

Philippians 4:11–13

When Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am,” he was sitting in prison, chained, limited, and yet free in spirit. His contentment wasn’t tied to comfort; it was rooted in Christ’s sufficiency. Paul wasn’t minimizing hardship. He was revealing a secret… contentment isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you learn through dependence on Jesus.

When he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” he wasn’t talking about achieving goals or chasing dreams. He was talking about enduring lack, navigating abundance, staying steady in every circumstance. Gratitude is the fruit of that kind of contentment. It shifts the focus from what’s missing to Who remains constant.

So when you feel small or stretched thin, remember this: you are not lacking. You are learning. Every act of gratitude, no matter how simple, is shaping your heart to trust that Christ’s strength is enough… even here, even now.

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And maybe this week, that blessing looks like the gratitude you bring to the Thanksgiving table. We don’t always get to choose the menu or the guest list, but we do get to choose our posture. Gratitude shifts the atmosphere; it turns criticism into compassion, small talk into encouragement, and an ordinary meal into sacred ground. Your presence at that table matters more than the pies you bake or the place settings you arrange.

When I feel it creeping in, I remember those dirt floors and grateful hearts. And I remember what Scripture says:

“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” — 1 Peter 4:9
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” — Hebrews 13:2

Whether you’re hosting this week or not, this is your invitation:
Bless, even in the simple.
Bring a thank-you gift. Extend a dinner invite. Offer a compliment or sit with someone who’s usually overlooked. Your blessing might not be loud or flashy, but it could be the one thing that shifts someone’s atmosphere.

Let gratitude lead.
Let love open the door.
You don’t have to impress to be used.
You don’t need to feel ready to be a blessing.

Reflection

What if this week, your contentment became someone else’s comfort?

Ask yourself:

• What keeps me from being a blessing, comparison, insecurity, fear of not being enough?
• Where have I been holding back love because I didn’t feel “ready”?
• What would it look like to live from Philippians 4:11–13—to rest in the truth that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even when I feel small or stretched thin?

Reset Room Freebie

This printable card set is designed to help you open the door of blessing wherever you go. Each card pairs a scripture with a short, grace-filled phrase that you can slip into a thank-you note, tuck into a hostess gift, or leave as a quiet encouragement for someone who needs it.

You’ll find the Open the Door cards waiting for you in the Reset Room. I hope they meet you right where you are this week, reminding you that blessing flows from the simple and gratitude makes even the smallest spaces holy.

Until next time, keep living, learning, and seeing it all through the lens of grace. 

With Grace, Jessica Lee