“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18.

Receiving a new job that affords a financial increase, quite easily, brings praise and thanksgiving to the lips and heart of the receiver. However, when a tree falls on a home and demolishes a substantial portion, does it evoke the same heart of thanksgiving? In all honesty, the human mind in the first incident is saying, “Thank you, Jesus!” while in the second, it’s likely saying, “Lord, have mercy!”

Yet, as beloved children of God, we are admonished to be thankful to God in all things. As it is written, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Everyone who has reached the age of accountability and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord knows that life brings both sunshine and rain. But when we understand the power of prayer—coming boldly before the throne of grace with assurance that God oversees every circumstance, favorable or not—we can readily agree with the Holy Spirit that God is good at all times!

“Thy will be done” should be the sincere plea of every prayer—not my will, but thine, O Lord. God knows best and orders our steps. Therefore, we can rest assured that His will is done; He hears our call and will answer. As Isaiah 64:8 states, “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

Releasing every situation to God’s will gives us peace and strength to say, “Thank you, Lord, in both the good and the bad situations.”  Not everything feels good; some hurts drive us to our knees for comfort and grace, just to keep running this Christian race. Yet God’s plan for good far exceeds the trials and tribulations we face.“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21.

Let us choose to follow the Apostle Paul’s advice to the saints in Thessalonica: in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you. Let us remember that as God’s beloved children, we are exactly where He wants us to be. Trust in His unending mercy and amazing grace; God will never fail! As the old hymn proclaims: I will trust in the Lord, stay on my bending knees, until I die. Thank you, Jesus!

God’s amazing grace and peace be with you all!