Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess. 5:16-18). We often hear people question the meaning of this verse asking, "Does that mean I have to thank God for the bad things going on in the world?" or "Does it mean I'm suppose to be thankful that my loved one is sick or dying?" Of course not, but we should and can have an attitude of thankfulness in everything. We had better be preparing our hearts and minds to do just that if we want to survive the troubling times that lie ahead. How can we be thankful if our eyes seem to see only negative?

      First we need to remember that if we have given our life to Christ then He is in control. Being able to trust Him to be in control takes faith. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). That means we can't see or know the hows or whys of tomorrow but we know He is in control. The problem we have in American church society is we think God should handle it the way we want or expect. Always in a happy and positive way.

      Look at Paul and Silas in Acts 16:22-30. In prison they were praying and singing. Do you think their prayer was only a pleading for safety or release? I think not. Otherwise their singing would not have been "praises unto God." They knew God was in control, and they let Him be in control. They had no idea what the end results would be. They had been beaten. I'm sure they were in pain, at the very least their bodies were uncomfortable in chains and stocks in the "inner prison." Their minds probably pictured a hanging at sunup. But they did not dwell on the negative. They could find good and a blessing in everything, even death. "Praise God we get to be in heaven with the Lord!"

      Now as it turned out God brought much good out of Paul and Silas’s negative experience here. But how do we know if or when He might use us for His purpose? We don’t know His plan for tomorrow or even the next minute, but we should be trusting him to be in control. Therefore we can give thanks in all things. Look for a positive, look for a blessing. Look with anticipation for what He might do. Even in the uncertain economic times we probably will be facing. He is in control…let Him be in control with peace that passes understanding.

Marilyn Gatrelle
11/2008
for www.TheDaysAhead.org