IN ALL THINGS TRUST GOD AND GIVE THANKS FOR THE GOOD THAT COMES FROM HIM
Things turn out best for folks who trust God because God helps folks who trust Him to make the best of the way things turn out. To trust God in all things is to give thanks in everything.
"Yeah, right," someone says cynically. "Paul also admonished us to rejoice always! Rejoice and give thanks!" . . . "Surely the Lord does not expect us to rejoice and give thanks when we are sick ... facing a crisis such as a loss of this or that . . . bereaved!"
A lot of what Paul called on Christians to do, and adhere to, does cause us to pause - because in our day we just don't have enemies to contend with the way he did - or do we?
My skepticism about "rejoicing always and giving thanks in everything" began to subside then replaced with optimism after reading about Corrie Ten Boom's survival of her ordeal in a Nazi concentration camp as described in a book she wrote.
Corrie tells about the infestation of fleas that nearly drove her and sister Betsy crazy. Fleas got in their hair, under their skin, made sleeping impossible - and they had no soap or flea powder.
Corrie's sister Betsy, though, reminded her of this verse, "in everything give thanks", but Corrie said, "I cannot and will not give thanks for fleas.”
Betsy responded, "We can at least give thanks that we are together and that they did not check our belongings so that we still have our Bible."
Corrie agreed to give thanks for her sister and for their Bible. They did not give thanks for the fleas, but they did give thanks for whatever they could, even while living a flea-bitten existence.
Years later, looking back at their horrible experience,, it occurred to Corrie that for yet another reason she and her sister should give thanks: Since they were flea infested, neither of them was ever raped by prison guards.
Sometimes it's hard to find something to give thanks for, but keep on asking God to help you see any good that you may have overlooked - not that we seek to rationalize that which may be irrational, but to honestly see if there be anything of good report - any way to turn a negative occurrence into a positive outcome.
Remember Garrison Keillor's theme song on the radio show "Prairie Home Companion" - "Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side of life."
How the Apostle Paul could rejoice despite all of the adversity he endured is beyond comprehension to those whose relationship to the Lord is rather casual - but, understood fully by those who have "been there, done that”.
Early in his ministry Paul and Silas sang hymns and prayed in their prison cell. Later in his life, yet again in prison - this time awaiting trial and execution - Paul wrote a brief letter to the Church at Philippi, urging them to rejoice.
Likewise, in his letter to the Thessalonian Christians, he calls on those who trust God in all things to give thanks - I Thessalonians 5:16-22 ...
In these exhortations, as Paul concluded his advice to the Thessalonians about getting ready for the coming of the Lord, he made seven announcements based on firmly-held beliefs:
(1) God created us to be happy, so always be joyful in the Lord as we await (as we look forward to) His coming to receive us unto Himself.
We know not the hour nor the day when our Lord may come, but we live daily with the hope within us that He will indeed keep His promise to receive us unto Himself - whether it be sooner or later ... in life or in death ... body and soul raptured or body and soul reunited when the "dead in Christ shall rise." Rejoice and give thanks.
(2) God's gift to us is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, so constantly pray that we might live a life worthy of that gift.
There is never a shortage of things to pray about, nor a time of day when prayer is not in order, so cultivate an attitude of readiness to pray whether our prayers take the form of words or thoughts or "groanings" - inexpressible urges that can occur in private or in public. The Spirit of God communicates our unspoken prayers to the throne of grace even while we are engaged in conversation or some type of activity! Rejoice and give thanks!
(3) God works in and through all circumstances in our lives to bring about that which is good for those who love Him, so always look for the silver lining and give thanks in everything -- for the tiniest blessing that comes to mind despite our human tendency to dwell on the negative.
Giving thanks in everything! does not mean that we are thankful for evil destructive events that so often overwhelm us and cause us to despair . . . but we do thank God for His presence during those times and His promise to work in and through all things for our good.
(4} An attitude of thanksgiving comes not from outward circumstances but from the joy in our hearts put there by the love of God that sent His Son to die for our sins, plus the coming into our hearts of the Lord Jesus whose Holy Spirit gives us peace during storms of life and stability in the midst of life1 s ups and downs.
"In times like these" (whatever might have been the negatives that concerned Paul in Thessalonica or negatives that maybe swirling around you and me in this the 21st century) vital to our emotional as well as spiritual well-being is our reliance on the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit. So:
When the Spirit ignites a little spark of joy within us, it would be a mistake to stifle that spark and not let it burst into a flame of excitement over our status as children of God.
Rather than stifle the Spirit, our prayer should be: "Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me ... Melt me, mold me, fill me; use me . . . Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me."
To yield to the Holy Spirit of God is to acknowledge His indwelling presence . . . accept His role as our most trustworthy interpreter of the Will of God . . . to be led by the truth of God's Word which the Spirit reveals to us and prods us to obey.
(5) Thus, refrain from turning a deaf ear to prophetic "thus saith the Lord" messages proclaimed by servants of God - whether they be prophets, priests, preachers or parishioners. Listen to the Word with an open mind, a receptive heart, and a will to do what's right in God's sight.
(6) In the process of learning the Word and doing the Will of God, be sure you rightly understand "what He says and what He wills". Test the truth of it -¬ ask questions, clarify, pray about it, meditate on it until it is revealed to you: "This is the way, walk ye in it."
(7) Once the message we've received via hearing or reading is perceived to be from the Lord and has been received into our hearts as truth, there should be no doubt about its validity ... our ability to be and do what's right in God's sight.
No Christian should have to be told to "hold onto what is good'' and to "stay away from every kind of evil" - but since some Thessalonians were still in spiritual infancy, Paul thought it important to remind them of their moral duty.
On the other hand, Paul would expect mature Christians to cling to good and shun evil - as a result of spiritual growth and development.
An attitude of gratitude just comes naturally to those of us who love the Lord and trust Him to work in all things to bring about that which is good -that which is good not only for we His people but also for His kingdom. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
In all things trust God, and in everything give thanks, for the Lord is good and His mercies endure forever! Let us make Paul' s benediction ours:
"May God himself the God of peace, sanctify you in and through all your circumstances.
"May your spirit, soul and body be found blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that the One who called you is faithful and will do what he says he will do . . . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you”! Amen!
