Give Thanks for...everything?!?

How do we know the will of God?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

I know you’ve heard me say before that I love Bible verses that say “always” and “all” and “never.” And most of the time, that’s true. But in these three verses, Paul challenges us in ways that are really, well, challenging.

Rejoicing and giving thanks ‘no matter what’ is not how humans are made. In fact, humans are mostly hard-wired to grumble and complain about everything, ESPECIALLY when we have to endure less-than-pleasant circumstances.

But THIS VERSE says it is the will of God for us to rejoice and give thanks in ALL circumstances!??

What’s in it for God that He wants us to rejoice and give thanks, even when we have been beaten down, harmed... or worse?

To me, He is asking us to demonstrate TRUST.

Trust God that ‘good things’ will come from unpleasant-sad-hurtful things. If we just hang in there, He will use these events to show His power. His miracles. His truth. His love. His intent is to shower us with the desires of our hearts.

It’s HIS CHANCE to show you how much He loves you.

Getting there may be hard, even painful, but clutching onto His hand when you are navigating a slippery slope, is our only way out... He promised us He would never abandon you.

Stand on His promise.

Sandwiched between vs 16 and vs 18 is tiny verse 17 with only three words: PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

Obviously, it can’t mean we are to be in a head-bowed, eyes-closed posture all day long. Paul is telling us to have a God-like attitude in ALL our circumstances. Be a living example of how much we are trusting God. A prayerful life is a way of living reverently and being calm in the midst of the storm. Knowing everything happens just as it should ....and just in God’s right time.

We need to practice having a Job-like attitude. Leaning In, knowing in your “knower” that when our heart is broken, when our health has faltered, when loved ones have passed away, when our business is languishing -- know He is carrying the load right along beside you. Pray without giving up. God’s answers to us are always YES-NO-WAIT..... until His voice is clearly heard, surrender to His Will. Pray without ceasing.

BE STILL AND KNOW. (Psalm 46:10)

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, teach us to lean into You for the best outcome in every situation. Open our hearts and minds to know that the end result is what You can use for the betterment and the growth of Your kingdom. Help us to respond to life's unfairness with sympathy toward others, or when appropriate, with righteous indignation. We pray that Your compassion, Your love, will flow through us and work miracles in Your name.

To someone who is in physical or emotional pain, giving them doubts and fearing there is no such thing as God, may that person greet life’s disappointments with grace and acceptance, knowing You are giving them the strength they need to stay the course. All they have to do is ask.

Dear Lord, for those that are hurting over a loss of a loved one, a loss of a child, a loss of a precious animal, a loss of their home and a place to live, a loss of a job that they loved because they refused to be injected with toxic poison against their will, Lord, comfort them. Send Your Holy Spirit and wrap them in the loving arms of Jesus Christ Himself. Touch their heart. Let them see the bigger view like they are seeing the natural geography from a 30,000-foot view. Lord, we pray this in Your name. We pray that You will grant the petitions in our prayers or gift us with something better. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.