For this is the will of God

Give thanks.

1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

We need more than a single day to give thanks, don't we? It's not easy to always give thanks though, is it? 

Imagine these words being heard by a follower of Christ in the early days after it was newly written. That follower of Christ on the very next day after hearing those words is captured and thrown in a prison, beaten, and sentenced to die.  Do you imagine them recalling those words and giving thanks in their circumstances? In agony of mind, body and possibly spirit this follower of Christ could give thanks.  Why? Because they believe what has happened to them is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning them.

I say the words, 'God's will be done', often.  I say them and yes, I mean them.  Do I truly think it's God's will when things happen in my life that bring me heartache and pain? I do. And by that I mean, that some how, some way this will be true--

Rom_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.

I have to believe this is truth. If this is truth then it is God's will that the pain and the heartache, the agony that I might endure is all for a purpose beyond my comprehension. I do NOT have to understand anything at all in order for me to believe. So many people try to use their lack of understanding to blame God for so much. They cry out they don't understand and the doubt their belief in God's word, God's truth, the love of God. They stop believing that the horrors of their lives could possibly some how work for good. The good, the only true good is the goodness of Christ in eternity. All other goodness that we think we should be experiencing, earthly good things, is a lie fed to us by Satan. Satan would have us believe we are entitled to good here and now, but we are not.  Ask any person who has been born into the third world countries, a slave, a victim abused from the youngest of age and grown up in daily suffering beyond anything we can begin to imagine.  Ask that person who has known nothing of earthly goodness if they believe they are entitled to good here and now.  We are promised eternal good in CHRIST, no more.

Can we give thanks? Yes, we can. Should we give thanks? Yes, we should. Even when it seems like we have nothing at all to be thankful for, nothing.

By the grace of God, I have much to be thankful for.  I have a lot of good things in my life here and now, I've been incredibly blessed in so many, many ways. I can't praise and thank God enough for all He has done for me.  It is my prayer that the future holds eternity in Christ, the only TRUE goodness in every possible way, for me. That all things- good and bad- in my life work together for good in Jesus Christ my Savior, my God. Please, Father, help me to give thanks in all things, in all ways, for all time.  All by YOUR LOVE, YOUR MERCY, YOUR GRACE, YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Amen.