As I have stated before, I am addicted to Ladies’ Bible studies. I can’t help it. If I am not involved in one, then I am looking for one to join or start. Whether or not the studies benefit the other ladies who attend, (I do appreciate them joining me on the journey), I know I need the structure of designated time in the Word. Right now, our group is preparing to do Ann Voskamp’s one thousand gifts. Her book and subsequent study came about after she was challenged to write down one thousand things that she was thankful God had given her. It also goes deeper than that.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 states that we should, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Give thanks in everything? I have struggled with this. There are several things in my life that I would be outright lying if I said I felt thankful for them. How can I come to a place of being truly thankful for them without feeling disingenuous?
I can do it because God says to- choice of your will- and all that, but I don’t want to serve God that way; although, I have on many occasions. It is a white-knuckle sort of obedience that results in very little joy. I want to obey God out of the fullness of a heart that loves Him. I WANT to be able genuinely to give thanks in ALL circumstances.
In my preparation for this study, I have been hit with one of those “Aha!” moments. Why didn’t I see this before? So, at the risk of spoilers for those attending the study- sorry ladies- I just had to share this.
First, go back to the 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 passage and put the give “give thanks in all circumstances” verse in context. “17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.” So, praying without ceasing, which pretty much means pray about everything, comes before the thanksgiving.
Here is the amazing part.
In the story of Lazarus, Jesus is standing before the tomb, and He prays this beautiful prayer.
John 11:41-42, “So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Jesus could give thanks because He KNOWS that God ALWAYS hears Him!
Pray without ceasing the apostle says and then give thanks no matter what the circumstances are because like our Master, we can KNOW that God Always hears us.
John then takes this a step further, 1 John 5:14- 15 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
Here is where we falter. We know that if our hearts are holding on to or harboring sin, God is under no obligation to listen to our prayers unless or until we confess to Him. Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished iniquity (sin, wickedness) in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” We have to make sure our hearts are right before God, and as much as it is possible within our power to be right with our fellow humans. Why would you live miserably? Confess it and move on!
Then we run into the “ask according to his will,” and we stumble again. How could we ever know before we pray what the will of the Lord is concerning the situations we are bringing to Him? In our fallen humanness, we are only ever going to be able to “see through a glass darkly”, so it’s time to quit worrying about having perfect knowledge and ask away! The loving heavenly Father will put His stamp of approval on all the requests that line up with His sovereign will, and I don’t have to worry about it as long as I am willing to accept what He gives.
Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Back to my original issue, which is- what about the things that I find it hard to give thanks for. I think the problem comes down to my lack of faith that God has really heard me, or that He is capable of handling the issue. Jesus is standing before a tomb ready to raise a dead man, and He was so supremely confident that God had heard and would answer that He could thank God. Resurrection power should cover anything I need!
ASK!
KNOW that He hears!
TRUST that His will is best!
THANK Him!
- Pray without ceasing.
- In everything give thanks.
- Because HE Hears!