In Everything Give Thanks
“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
When things are going great, the verse above is a very reasonable request. We all know that life is not always smooth sailing. What if our health has turned from good to bad or our finances have turned from surplus to deficient. It's during these times of challenge that we still are required to follow God's word. The Bible tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, not just when things are going well.
This scripture is especially meaningful to me because of a certain time in my life when I was deeply hurt. During this sorrow I felt so sorry for myself and at the same time felt angry for the situation. A car had been given to me to use. I used it for two years and made repairs on it as needed, then with little notice the car was taken by the person who donated it to me. I had just had that car repaired and was not even finished paying off the balance I owed for those repairs.
I still thank God that I was able to use the car for two years, so before I gave it back to her, I filled the tank and have the car washed. The following day I had to walk to work and while walking, my heart was gripped with self-pity, anger for the situation and frustrated. That night I cried hard to the Lord releasing all my disappointments and anger. During that prayer time, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and reminded me that even when things seem bad, I should still give thanks to Him. He reminded me that He has full control of everything, all I need to do is trust Him.
The following morning as I walk to work, instead of wallowing in self pity, I started singing praises to the Lord. The song He gave me is “How Can I keep From Singing Your Praise.” After work one night, I received a phone call from her, telling me the Lord touched her heart to just buy a new car and will just return the car to me.
This time, the answer from God came quickly and it was in my favor. Next time, it may not be that way, yet, His word is still the same. We have to trust God to work out the details of what we are going through. This will be one of the biggest challenges in our Christian walk. We fool ourselves into believing we have control over our lives with all our planning, but difficulties are less stressful when we relinquish our efforts and acknowledge that God is in control.
Today, you may be experiencing circumstances that are beyond your control. Do not let the enemy rob you of your joy. Start thanking God in every situation, knowing that He loves you and cares for you.