Even When Things Aren’t Going So Well
Life is full of things that we don’t necessarily enjoy. We all go through times when we wonder why. Why is this happening?
Knowing this doesn’t make it any easier.
Asking the why question is a good thing to do, but often we don’t get the answer as quickly as we want. We want to know now. Sometimes the result happens long after we expect. Sometimes we never even see the end result.
We also have preconceived visions of how we think things are going to turn out and when they don’t, we get discouraged. Sometimes this leads to giving up.
This crazy, busy life we lead gets even busier around the holidays. This kind of busy can lead to dread and discontent. We can choose how we’re going to view things.
We can choose whether to be happy or not.
In Acts 17:1-10, Paul was preaching in Thessalonica. There were some Jews that were jealous because people were believing the message and began to follow Him. This led to the forming of a mob and attacking the believers.
Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the believers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, and Jason has received them as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus!” The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. So, taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
As soon as it was night, they helped Paul and Silas escape.
This left Paul feeling discouraged.
Sometime later, Paul sends Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on things and finds out that the church is continuing to grow. Not what he expected.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:1-6, he gives thanks for this unexpected outcome.
Then in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, he continues to bless them and exhort them. Telling them to rejoice always, pray constantly, don’t stifle the Spirit and …
Give thanks in everything for this is God’s will.
Even when things aren’t going the way we expect or want, we need to remember that we aren’t the ones in charge. We just need to seek and follow His guidance.
So, even when you best laid plans go off track … remember to give thanks.