In I Thessalonians 5:18 we read: "Give thanks in all things for this is the will of God."
What was God thinking when He gave us those words? Is it impossible or ridiculous? Was He kidding?
(Does God kid?)
How come God put such a difficult command in the Bible?
What I can't get away from is this truth: Commands are for my good and God's glory.
I can't get away from this other truth: Commands come from a loving God who is in control of all things..
What about the times when God doesn't seem to be responding to our prayers—those times when the only light that's at the end of a tunnel is an oncoming train?
According to Scripture, we can still give thanks that God is with us in that tunnel.
When I was writing that verse, I accidentally wrote: "Always giving things to God the Father…" instead of, "Always giving thanks to God the Father"— but I liked that.
I can only give thanks to God after I've given things over to God. When I give over my things—my stuff, my worries, my fears and uncertainties, my kids—all my things and circumstances to God, that's when I can give thanks. Or, maybe do it all at the same time. Whatever works!
The Message in Philippians 4:8 puts it this way: "Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praise shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. . . it's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."
Worry displaced with peace. I can dig that exchange. I just need to remember to give thanks and allow that reshaping to happen.
I Thessalonians 5 is not an impossible commandment; rather, it's an invitation to know God better because He has promised to work all things out for our good. We don't see it now, but we don't have his eyesight.I need God's glasses, to see things from His point of view, and for the faith to trust Him deeper until we can.
My brother, Steve often ends his emails with his pithy statement: We Must Just Trust.
I suppose we don't have to trust. But trusting God provides peace and allows us to lean in a little more into the faithful and loving heart of God. If we could see everything right now, we wouldn't need faith. And faith pleases God.
Dear friends of ours were moving out of state because of a new job. I asked if I could give them a going-away party. They said, "No, we don't really want the attention to be on us—God has just been so faithful."
So, I said, "Okay, I will give a 'God is faithful' party and you can be the guests of honor." So we did.
The invitations read: "Come say Goodbye to the Crockers—God has been so faithful to them. Bring something that reminds you of a time that God was faithful in your life."
Wow—what a night!
We had 30 people standing one-by-one, holding up some object and expressing how God was faithful to them. One was Bob Marshall who held up a watch: "Fifteen years ago the doctors said that my wife, June, only had eight years to live. This watch symbolizes the extra years he's given to both of us."
God loves being faithful to us. He just wants us to remember that He is.
Last week in Jesus Calling, Sarah Young wrote: "Punctuate your days with giving thanks."
Isn't that great? Punctuation is important. Adding thanks throughout my day is the best thing I can do to help me pause like a comma—maybe even a semi-colon—pause, give thanks, and remind myself that God is in control, He is all-powerful, and loves me forever and ever, amen.
We are invited to be thankful in all circumstances so that we can reflect on the faithfulness of God's character and His promises. We are commanded to give thanks in all things because faith pleases God, builds my trust, shows off the glory of God and honestly, what has worry every done for you and me? Not much.
How will you remember to give thanks this week?
Where have you see His faithfulness in this past year?
Share in comments and we'll all give thanks.
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Do you ever feel like hospitality could be more than just food and fellowship? It can be, it's meant to be!
The first one is the "God is Faithful" party we gave for our friends, the Crockers.
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