16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray continually. 18 Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Reflection
When I read this admonition from Paul, I don’t know that I feel inspired as much as I feel…frustrated and bewildered.
“To rejoice always….pray continually….give thanks in every situation” just doesn’t feel possible. If everything was good all the time, then yes. That would be easy. But we all know that life goes wrong sometimes. Jobs don’t work out. Relationships fall apart. We or our loved ones face health challenges we never anticipated. Are we meant to give thanks in those situations, too?
We don’t give thanks in the bad times for the sake of the bad times. We give thanks in the bad times, in the hard times, in the lean times, because giving thanks makes them that much easier to endure. I don’t know about you, but the moments in my life when God has felt most real to me have been those moments when everything around me was coming apart. When I had nothing else, I took comfort that I had God.
So I don’t want people to walk away thinking Paul’s message here is: “just put on a happy face and pretend like everything is ok.” Instead, what I hear him saying is: “when things are tough, be careful not to shut God out.” Because there’s a blessing if you keep talking and keep finding things to be thankful for!
by Joe Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
I’ve often observed that during times of crisis, people either choose to turn toward God or away from God. Seldom is there a middle ground. Looking back over your life, what has been your pattern? How can you cultivate a better relationship with God & your faith so that you are prepared in the face of any challenge?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, bless me today with an awareness of your presence. Help me to take notice of the small things that point me to the evidence of your goodness and blessing in my life. When I see them, remind me to give thanks. Give me the foundation of faith that will allow me to pray and praise you continually, no matter what the circumstances. Amen.
