During the past week, I’ve heard of brothers and sisters in the Lord dealing with the tragic news of cancer diagnoses, broken relationships with family members or friends, and dreams of the future being derailed by unforeseen circumstances.
As I have written many times, life is hard. Very few of us escape without a number of rough patches along the way. So the question is, how do we handle them when they do come? Of course, there are many responses when life gets difficult, both positive and negative. Some of us soldier on, putting one foot in front of another, while others find it hard just getting up each morning. Some of us remain hopeful for the future while others fall into despair. We all handle the hard times differently, but I think all of us find it difficult, if not incomprehensible, to be thankful in the midst of them. Yet, this is what Paul commands us to do.
“All circumstances” does not leave exceptions. Give thanks except when your mother dies? No. Or give thanks except when your significant other ends the relationship. No. The fact is Paul leaves zero room for exceptions. Whatever our circumstances, thanksgiving is always appropriate.
This may be hard to comprehend, but we see it in Jesus. On the night He was betrayed by Judas, He gave thanks (I Corinthians 11:23-24). When He was about to embark on the most painful and humiliating day of His life, He still was able to give thanks. How? Because He knew His Heavenly Father was in control.
When we entrust our lives to the Lord, then we know that in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, good or bad, the Lord is there with us and in control of things. And we have the promise of Romans 8:28 to reassure us that He will bring good out of whatever we are facing. Thus, there is always reason to be thankful.
Today, whatever hard things you may be facing, remember the Lord is in complete control. So give thanks today for His goodness and mercy, for His love and compassion, and for His ability to bring good out of bad. No circumstances you are facing or may face can ever change that.
© Jim Musser 2016
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