“Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
Have you ever had an “aha” moment when you read a scripture? A few weeks ago while reading a devotional about 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it happened to me. For some reason, when I read verse 18, I thought, how can I be thankful for certain things that have happened to me in my life? The devotion pointed out that it isn’t saying we should be thankful for our circumstances but in them.
I hadn’t really thought about this scripture that way. Yet, that is what God wants us to do. I won’t ever be thankful for my first husband or father’s death, but in those times, God surrounded me with strong Christians that were lifting me up in prayer. That is a reason to give Him praises. When we are in a season of grief, we can give thanks for our Lord and Savior’s steadfast love. What a comfort that He is always with us and never leaves our side. I felt it at then and I still feel it now.
I recently saw this with one of my close friends, when I attended her son’s funeral. He died at the age of 33. He battled mental illness and addiction most of his young adult life. I was a prayer warrior for him all those years. My friend had been praying for her son’s healing knowing that it might not happen here on earth. I cannot even imagine how hard it was for her to pray that. Of course, she wanted him healed here, but God took him home.
The pastor’s words were an encouragement for all of us. He said, aren’t you glad that we aren’t judged for the worst days of our lives? One of the scriptures read was Romans 7:14-25. The first few verses read, “14 The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Despite some of his life choices, my friend knew he was saved. We serve a loving God. I don’t see Him sending one of His children to hell that was already living in their own living hell do you? Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are sealed with the Holy Spirit, no one or nothing can take that from us. Her son’s body is now free from sin and death. “53 Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. 54 The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true. Death has lost the battle!”—1 Corinthians 15: 53-54 (CEV) Scriptures such as these are what give my friend comfort as well as for any of us who have lost a loved one.
We are promised a rich inheritance of eternal life. When we live with that hope and not our circumstances, we are able to persevere. This is how my friend is able to cope with the death of her son. Her strong faith is what gives her the strength to continue to live her life for Jesus. She isn’t giving thanks for it, but she sees God’s hand in her circumstances and has hope in what God’s Word says.
Do you know someone that is going through a difficult time that needs to hear the words of hope spoken in the Gospel? I encourage you to reach out to them to let them know you are praying for them including a scripture that might lift their spirt. It might be what opens the door for you to be bolder in your faith and share the love of Jesus with them.
Father God,
Thank You for Your grace and forgiveness when I let circumstances steal my joy. Open my ears, eyes and heart to the hurting people around me. Show me what I can do today to brighten the life of someone else. Lead me to who I can love and help in Your name. I ask for opportunities and boldness to share my faith. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen
October Verse
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”—Philippians 4:13
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