Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Hamish had his walk on thanksgiving, so he was thankful along with Anthony and I. Of course it rained. Hamish, like a lot of dogs doesn’t like the rain. If it’s pelting down and he needs ‘to go’, I am the one that gets wet taking him outside as he bolts straight back into the house. But if I play ball or take him for a walk, the two things he loves the most, he doesn’t care about the rain but is just enjoying the activity. He is still aware of the rain, as he stops and shakes himself every so often but that is not what he is concentrating on.
What are you concentrating on –
the ‘rain’ in your life or God?
1 Thessalonians 5:18. Being thankful in a hard circumstance is one of the hardest things for us as Christians to actually do, not just believe. It’s easy being thankful for the good times.
What does the verse mean? That while we are going through hard times, we can find something to be thankful for: for example, a friend being there for us, or seeing God at work in the situation.
If we can’t see anything to be thankful for, we can thank God that he is working in the background. Romans 8:28 “ IN all things” – including the bad - “God works for the good of those who love him.”
God helps us by telling us how to have that attitude: “Pray without ceasing”, being continually aware of God’s presence and in constant fellowship with Him. Or in other words - it's not you it's God working in you.
It does not mean that you have to be thankful FOR the difficult circumstance or:
-That you jump up and down with glee if you have just been told you have cancer
-That you put on a huge smile and go round telling people you are fine
-That you lie about how you are feeling to yourself, God or others
Why does God want me to be thankful?
Because the right heart attitude and forgiveness is an important part of the Christian walk: I believe part of it is so that we don’t become bitter or full of hate. We all know someone who just can’t let go of something that hurt them. But who do you think it is hurting the most, causing the most destruction? The longer we hold onto bitterness and hate, the harder it is to let go of it. It ends up destroying us: our love, peace, thankfulness, generosity in all aspects to others, and our fellowship with God.
It’s easier in many ways when we stop looking at the circumstance - putting our trust in that - and instead put our trust in God. One such way is being able to be thankful. When we are thankful it’s hard to become bitter or full of hate.
So sometimes it’s a challenge but it’s for our own good!
Hamish had his walk on thanksgiving, so he was thankful along with Anthony and I. Of course it rained. Hamish, like a lot of dogs doesn’t like the rain. If it’s pelting down and he needs ‘to go’, I am the one that gets wet taking him outside as he bolts straight back into the house. But if I play ball or take him for a walk, the two things he loves the most, he doesn’t care about the rain but is just enjoying the activity. He is still aware of the rain, as he stops and shakes himself every so often but that is not what he is concentrating on.
What are you concentrating on –
the ‘rain’ in your life or God?
1 Thessalonians 5:18. Being thankful in a hard circumstance is one of the hardest things for us as Christians to actually do, not just believe. It’s easy being thankful for the good times.
What does the verse mean? That while we are going through hard times, we can find something to be thankful for: for example, a friend being there for us, or seeing God at work in the situation.
If we can’t see anything to be thankful for, we can thank God that he is working in the background. Romans 8:28 “ IN all things” – including the bad - “God works for the good of those who love him.”
God helps us by telling us how to have that attitude: “Pray without ceasing”, being continually aware of God’s presence and in constant fellowship with Him. Or in other words - it's not you it's God working in you.
It does not mean that you have to be thankful FOR the difficult circumstance or:
-That you jump up and down with glee if you have just been told you have cancer
-That you put on a huge smile and go round telling people you are fine
-That you lie about how you are feeling to yourself, God or others
Why does God want me to be thankful?
Because the right heart attitude and forgiveness is an important part of the Christian walk: I believe part of it is so that we don’t become bitter or full of hate. We all know someone who just can’t let go of something that hurt them. But who do you think it is hurting the most, causing the most destruction? The longer we hold onto bitterness and hate, the harder it is to let go of it. It ends up destroying us: our love, peace, thankfulness, generosity in all aspects to others, and our fellowship with God.
It’s easier in many ways when we stop looking at the circumstance - putting our trust in that - and instead put our trust in God. One such way is being able to be thankful. When we are thankful it’s hard to become bitter or full of hate.
So sometimes it’s a challenge but it’s for our own good!
An example of prayer in hard times-
“God you know I am crying over this, and I honestly don’t see what the purpose is, in this. I know you have me in the hollow of your hand even though I feel like I am hanging on by my fingertips.
I know you are the glue that is holding my cracked, fragile shell together just now, while you are working and moulding me a new vessel on the inside. And that you promised me your “peace that passes all understanding” through this, if I trust you. So thank you.”
“God you know I am crying over this, and I honestly don’t see what the purpose is, in this. I know you have me in the hollow of your hand even though I feel like I am hanging on by my fingertips.
I know you are the glue that is holding my cracked, fragile shell together just now, while you are working and moulding me a new vessel on the inside. And that you promised me your “peace that passes all understanding” through this, if I trust you. So thank you.”
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