Always...In All Circumstances

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (ESV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

I like to look at this verse, in reverse.  What is God's will for me?  I ask that question a lot.  Well, in all circumstances, wherever I am at, and whatever I am doing...I can give thanks.  That almost sounds impossible, right?  So when I am in pain, when my child is sick, fill in the blank (the possibilities are endless)...am I suppose to say, "Thank You God, that my child is sick."  Be fake?  Pretend?  I don't think so.

First of all, we can thank God for who He is.  That He knows what is happening.  That He is in control.  Knowing that He is in control, doesn't help unless you trust Him though.  Sometimes I think, "But You do let children die, and You allow bad things to happen." I'll save that for another time actually!

Okay, so back to the sick child scenario.  Sometimes when I hold one of my sick children, and I am exhausted and possibly scared, I thank God that my child has me to comfort them, to pray for them, to care for them.  I think of children who have been orphaned, who do not have the attention and care and love that I am able to give to my children.  And then I pray for those children.   I thank Him that someday there will be no more sickness.

So the thanksgiving leads me to pray!  I pray that God will continually open my eyes more and more to the beauty and blessings that surround me because of His love.  The more I see, the more I am in the constant state of prayer...thanking Him and interceding for others.  I am praying without ceasing.

All of that leads to rejoicing!  We don't need to give thanks FOR the circumstance, but give thanks IN the circumstance!  That I can do with a genuine heart...in truth.  And all of it is "in Christ Jesus".  Because of Him.