Give Thanks in All Circumstances

by Barb Jenkins

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

These words seem a big order. Give thanks in ALL circumstances?

It is easy to Praise God when things are going well. When things are not going well our human tendency is to be anxious, worried, afraid or even angry. God seems to be asking us to rise above our normal human tendencies. Since God never asks us to do anything He doesn't give us the power to do, He must know we need to do this for our own good.

Let me tell you how God taught me the value of praising Him in all things. I was born the first time July 4th 1950. Over the next 29 years I learned how to be anxious, afraid and worried about many things. I also learned how to be discontent and angry with so many of life's inconsistencies. I was so unhappy with all the mundane duties of every day life. Life seemed so hard and disappointing; not at all what I had envisioned. This is where God found me on June 19, 1979.

That day a neighbour gave me two books to read, From Prison to Praise and The Power of Praise by Merlin Carothers. At that time I didn't really believe God was real. I hoped He was but if He was I sure couldn't seem to find or reach Him. That was all about to change, as He was about to reveal Himself to me.

As I read these books I knew what I was reading was truth. God was reaching down to me through the pages of the books I was reading. He was real and was asking me to surrender my life to Him. I knew I was to begin to praise Him in all things. If I would do this I would begin to become a victorious person rather than a defeated one. That day my heart was changed and hope again entered my life. The God of the Bible was real and He was communicating with me. He wanted to have a personal relationship with me through the person of Jesus Christ.

Through the next months I praised Him for being real and then for everything He allowed into my life. I was full of so much joy. The more I praised God the happier I got. I knew that Satan could not win a victory in my life as long as I kept my eyes on Jesus, and continued to praise Him in everything.

Six months from the time I was saved I would face the biggest challenge of my life. My third son Jody, age five, was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor (cancer of the kidney). I knew to be victorious through this trial I must do as God had been teaching me. I must keep my eyes on Him and continue to trust and praise Him through this. I held my Bible as I walked the hospital corridors knowing that in order not to fall into fear I must hold on to God with all my heart.

At one point I surrendered my son to God and told Him I would continue to love and praise Him whether Jody lived or not. Right after I did this, I knew in my heart that God was pleased and my heart was filled with a peace that passed all understanding. I knew God was trustworthy no matter what the outcome. God did intervene. Jody will be 30 this year, is married with two children and is cancer free. Praise God! Yet, even had the outcome been different God is worthy to be trusted and praised.

Twenty years later on July 15, 2000 our youngest of five sons, Mark age 17, died in a car accident. Because of what I had learned about God over the years I was able to trust and praise God even through this tragedy. God has not promised that everything in our life will be perfect, because we live in a fallen world. He has promised to walk with us and see us through everything that life brings our way.

How thankful I am that God came into my life and taught me to praise and trust Him through all things that happen in my life. How different this story would have been if God had not prepared me for what was about to occur in my life. Since that day God has proven in hundreds of ways that He is trustworthy and nothing can happen to me that He does not allow. I know that God can be trusted no matter what He allows to come into my life. I may not always understand it, but I know the one who can be trusted has promised that He will never leave me, and that He will use all things for good, to those who love Him, according to Hebrews 13:5 and Romans 8:28.

If you have never asked God to come into your life now is the time you need to do it. He is standing at the door of your heart knocking. Will you let Him come in? He promises in His Word that if you ask Him He will come in and fellowship with you. Repeat this prayer after me: Lord, I ask you to come into my life. I need you. Please forgive me of my sins. I want you to come into my life and change me from the inside out.
I believe that Jesus died in my place so I can have a personal relationship with Him.
Help me learn to trust you and lean on you as I walk through life.
Help me learn to praise you in all things.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer Jesus has come into your life as He promised. Don't go by your feelings, believe His Word. It is important that you tell someone of your decision. You will need to find some Christian friends to help you stay true to your decision. Also going to a Bible believing Church is important for growth, as is reading the Bible and good Christian books. God bless you as you grow in your relationship to Him. He is worthy to be praised.