by David Brenneman
"always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" Ephesians 5:20.
As we read the word everything in today's verse, it may trouble us. Does God really mean we're to give thanks in all things, or can we make a few exceptions? But understand that the man who wrote this passage was a man who knew what it meant to be hungry, betrayed, imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, persecuted, and left for dead. He suffered all kinds of difficulties and heartaches. Yet the apostle Paul declared we are to give thanks in everything That includes the good things that we enjoy--the health, friends, promotions, and blessings. But it also involves the painful things --sickness, disappointment, criticism, mistreatment, trials, temptations, and the loss of loved ones.
Why are we to give thanks? Because when we express our gratefulness, we acknowledge the sovereignty and wisdom of God.
He's in control of everything we face and can take whatever we
experience and transform it for our good and His glory. You may
not understand how or why; you're simply to trust that He can.
Because in every difficulty there's an opportunity to learn essential
spiritual lessons that will strengthen your relationship with Jesus, transform your character, and fit you for service. So stay close to God, have faith, and praise Him for all of it.
Jesus, I will thank You even when I don't understand. Amen. (From Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley).
It's really summed up in obedience to God's Word. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6. Add in Jesus's words to take up your own cross and follow Him you have your choices of things reduced to two. Your understanding and trusting in God's plan and purpose for your life. When we go with the second one we're going to face things in ways we never saw coming and understandably so they probably won't be comfortable things.
Yet we are to still give thanks.
Where we really mess things up and really struggle is when in our own understanding we get ahead of God. Then being thankful in all things gets more difficult because we know we are the ones who messed up and did something in a panic and embarrassment naturally follows.
In Job's life and trials of his life that we read...3 of his 4 best friends were rebuked by the Lord for their advice to Job. Their understanding wasn't what was right and true.
Giving thanks for being made to take a detour? Yes.
Giving thanks when the answer is no to a job you sought after? Yes.
Giving thanks when life is good? Yes.
Giving thanks when disaster strikes? Yes.
Giving thanks when...the answer, according to the Scriptures is a resounding yes.
We want to understand things. The who, what, where, how and why's.
Yet in several places in the Scriptures, easily noted in the book of Daniel, our understanding at the time isn't of particular importance.
Just don't get ahead of God's plan for you. That's how we end up going down roads that make it difficult to remember to be thankful.
It's odd in a way that I always see people posts on LinkedIn where the picture says to remember to thank God for your answer to prayer for your new job.
When my new one is ready, in God's timing, I certainly will be thanking God. I am already thanking Him ahead of time for what He is preparing for me.
Further too...and this comes from a hard lesson learned...don't get ahead of God. You're going to be tempted to take a different road from God's plan for you. To answer your own prayer request because panic is setting in. You cannot thank God for that kind of response.
Keep pace with Jesus. Be sure that you're letting Him hold your hand through life and not you holding His. If you are holding His hand you're going to be tempted to let go. If He's holding yours He will never let go. Big difference.
Don't forget thankfulness in your life for all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done and permitted in your life.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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