In All Circumstances, Really?

My Devotion

My Heart

In All Circumstances, Really?

Teresa Jenkins

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Life is full of it, trouble on every corner, every step of the way, bad is lurking its ugly head.  We are not in Eden any more, Satan stole our heaven on earth with a lie.  Since that time we have struggled with sin and with the result of sin.  Not one person is immune from it, we commit sin, we are affected by sin, and the guilt of sin is on our hands.

But there is freedom through the blood of Jesus Christ and it is our personal choice to claim that freedom.  It’s an individual choice.  No one can make it for you, no one can force that choice on you.  Be prepared whatever choice you make there will be a result.  I have made some really bad decisions in my life that still haunt me to this day.

I am a mother with a broken heart, as hard as I tried all those years raising 4 boys alone, they grow up and you pray that something you taught them about Jesus sticks.  It’s that choice thing.  One of my sons has made some very bad choices and he sits in jail far away from me and I cannot fix this problem for him, his own choices have put him where he is.  And God’s Word tells me to give thanks in this circumstance for this is God’s will.

It’s not God’s will that my son made the choices he’s made, but I know that giving thanks to God is the act of faith on my part that He is at work.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:17   He is before everything, He was already there before it ever happened.  All God ever did was love us, and when we rebelled—implement a plan—to rescue us.  He will leave the 99 to rescue one who has gotten lost.  As much as I love my son and it breaks my heart at what he has done and is going through, God loves Him even more, there is no mountain He won’t destroy, no depth He will not enter to save us.  At Jesus’ death he entered hell and took back the keys and shook them in Satan’s face, he could not hold Jesus in the grave and through His resurrection we have hope.

Give thanks in all circumstances is not a punishment, it is an act of submission and trusting God’s process.  The days, weeks, and maybe years will be difficult until that lost one surrenders, but oh the joy and the testimony he will have because through this circumstance he will have no doubt that God is real, that God loves him, and that God saved him from his own destructive devices.

In this world we will have trouble, but take heart, be courageous, and thank God for His faithfulness and enduring love.  He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us, take Him at His word.  He knew whatever you and I are going through before it ever happened, our part is surrender with thanksgiving for all circumstances.  What is there to be thankful for in the really bad circumstances? It is one more opportunity for God to receive glory for what only He can do.  Trust the process that He has already put into place, God is relentless in demonstrating His love for all. 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1  He who created everything by speaking it into being has all our circumstances under control.  Be thankful.