1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in
Christ Jesus.
Psalm 34:1 Of
David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and
he left. I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my
lips.
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:6 Do
not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 3:17 And
whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord …
As we determined yesterday, if you are not going through a
difficult time, you likely will encounter one soon. Jesus assured us that we’d
have many hardships in this life (John 16:33).
As unpleasant as trials are, there are still many reasons
for giving thanks. Yesterday, we looked at three provisions believers can count
on during adversity: God’s presence, a pathway through the trouble, and
potential to grow. Today, let’s explore two more.
1) Protection. God doesn’t necessarily keep believers
from suffering or disappointment. Stopping the storms may be our goal, but from
His point of view, the adversity may be necessary to mature us spiritually.
However, the Father offers protection by staying with us in the struggle. Once
we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are promised that God’s Spirit indwells us
and will never leave. What’s more, we have assurance that nothing can separate
us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39). So our ever-present God walks with us through
the hardships, providing guidance and speaking truth into the situation.
2) Peace. While difficulties cause many people anxiety,
God’s peace is available to His children. This inner serenity does not depend
on whether circumstances improve. Rather, it’s a result of our relationship
with Him. Our main focus shouldn’t be on fixing the problem; rather, we should
concentrate on our dependence upon God.
As we recognize the Lord’s provision during trials, we can
genuinely express gratitude. We often don’t know what the purpose is for each
ensuing difficulty, but we do know that our God is good and trustworthy.
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