"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We all wonder what God's will is for us. Many times we grapple with specifics, and pray for God's definitive leading. All this is well and good.

But so often we miss what we already know is God's will for us while we grapple with life's issues: that we rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in everything. It is the part of His will for us that we don't need to seek to know, just do.

One biblical commentary, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, refers to the phrase "in everything" as including "even what seems adverse: for nothing is really so," and points us to Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Jesus Himself provided an example of giving thanks in everything just prior to His crucifixion. During the Last supper, He took the cup and told His disciples that it represented His own blood which would be shed for the remission of the sins of mankind. While He held the cup, He thanked God for it. When I take communion and drink from the cup, I thank God for the precious shed blood of His Son Jesus, and what that means for me. But here was Jesus Himself, thanking God in advance for the pouring out of His own blood for others.

Jesus' crucifixion is the ultimate example of God working everything together for good. And Jesus' prayer of thankfulness beforehand is the ultimate example of giving thanks in everything.

No matter what our station is in life, we will face adversities of some kind. They may or may not have to do with being single. Just remember that if we are longing for marriage in order to have a trouble-free life, we will be disappointed if marriage comes our way. The Bible tells us that those who marry will have trouble,** so we know that life's problems don't end at the altar. So often we think, "If I could just change this particular aspect of my life, everything would be okay." We think that about so many things - our finances, our health, our jobs, our relationships, our location, our appearance, and so forth. But would it? If God works everything together for good, we need to trust Him for that good in whatever situation He places us.

Our part in any situation - difficult or not - is this:

Are we still rejoicing - allowing the joy of the Lord to be our strength?***

Are we praying continually - talking with the Lord throughout our day about everything and anything?

Are we giving thanks to God, no matter what is happening in our lives or in our world?

If we are doing these three things, we can know without a doubt that we are within the will of God. And as the old saying goes, "There is no safer place to be, than in the center of God's will."

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:20)

* Matthew 26:27-28
** I Corinthians 7:29
*** Nehemiah 8:10

© Fern Horst

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