Give Thanks

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Have you ever read the verse above in the midst of chaos and times of heartache and wondered, like I have, “How am I supposed to give thanks for this?”

If we look at the scripture above carefully, notice that it is telling us to “give thanks in all circumstances.”  It does not say to give thanks for all circumstances. Do you see the difference? It is a significant change in how we perceive it. 

This verse calls us, not to give thanks for the cancer, financial struggles, heartache or illness. These things, though allowed by God, are not from God.  He wants to use them for our good, but they do not come from Him.  The Father loves us.  His desire is not for us to live in sickness, disease or struggles. Accordingly, we need not give thanks for those situations.
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Instead, let’s look around to see for what we may be called to give thanks in our situation. As we do, our focus is shifted to the things around us. We seek God and His goodness and we watch for the blessings He promises to bring us in the circumstances. 

What does that look like? God speaks to us all differently and He knows what we need in any given moment. Maybe a friend called to encourage you, you received a card in the mail, a meal was brought to you or you feel a closeness with God as He carries you through a struggle. We just keep our eyes open to what God is doing, and not allow ourselves to be consumed by the circumstance.  Many of us have a story where in midst of our pain something touched us in a beautiful way, and a valuable lesson was learned. Let’s obey the verse above and thankfully keep our eyes on the blessings around us.  

What can you be thankful for today?

Dear one, be blessed today to see the beauty and blessings that surround you. Know that God does not want heartache for you. He is providing you with gifts of encouragement and joy all around you. I bless you to have eyes to see all that He has for you. 
 
Monica Brunn, June 3, 2020