Incredibly Thankful!
I have just finished another great year of driving a school bus and now I am enjoying some time off with my beautiful wife by my side. I have to say that I am incredibly thankful for this life that I am a part of. Now that doesn’t mean that my circumstances have always been so pleasant because I have also know days that were far more difficult.
One thing that I have learned over the last 55 years is that being thankful really has nothing to do with circumstances, good or bad. Being thankful is a choice and I am so glad that I learned that lesson early on in life.
Paul said in 1 Thess 5:16-18 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The above scripture may be one of the greatest truths that anyone can believe to find peace on this earth.
"Give thanks in ALL circumstances."
To be able to give thanks in all circumstances one must have faith that looks beyond what is seen and rely on something that you know will get you through whatever comes your way. That’s why I believe with all my heart that God provided all of us that very something in the person of Jesus Christ. He provided a perfect life, a life so powerful that it would be able to justify every man or woman who has ever or will ever walk this earth. There is no sin too big or circumstance too difficult for our Lord and Savior.
Rom 8:38-39 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There are some that claim to be followers of Jesus and yet they believe he only had the power to save a few. How could we ever be thankful in ALL circumstances if we don’t believe HE is Lord of all circumstances? I have sadly seen many a Christian who grew bitter when the circumstance of their life became hard, and why shouldn’t they when they are told so often from the pulpit that God only blesses those who believe enough and have enough faith? Of course, they are never told just how much they have to believe or exactly what is defined as a faithful life.
Well, here is the good news. Jesus is Lord of all circumstances. He did believe enough. He did have a perfect faith. And He does stand by our side in the hard circumstances, and the easy ones, and He has made it crystal clear that He will see us through regardless of how difficult it may seem.
We do have a decision to make, and this decision will not change the final outcome because that has already been decided by what Christ did at the cross, but making the decision to be thankful in ALL circumstances will give us an incredible peace as we journey here on earth.
So, as I said earlier, my present circimstances are really wonderful and I am incredibly thankful, but if things change tomorrow, I know I will still give thanks because I have a PERFECT SAVIOR who walks with me through whatever comes my way.
Thankyou Lord Jesus.
Cliff I am it is such a joy to know what He has done for all and knowing this truly brings a thankful heart.I am also thankful for a place like this to share with about this wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ.
Love in Christ Dan
Cliff , since coming to realize the full scope of this incredible gospel I have realized that the most and the least we can do is be thankfull. As I have said before, I can so relate to what you share here. Hear in lies the secret to real joy and peace. This can only be a work of His Spirit within us and for those that discover this they can truly rest. As well for me at least when my hope for this world was limited at best it was more difficult to just trust the Lord and be thankfull. Now I do have a blessed hope for All and this brings about a whole new level of thankfulness. Thanks for this one Cliff, have a great day.
“Being thankful is a choice.” I love it! We don’t always control our circumstances, but we do control how we react to them.
Loved the post cliff.But can i say that in these verses you have mentioned Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
How on earth can a person be continually joyful,talking to God all the time, and giving thanks to him?
I will tell you cliff how we can do all these things in the midst of lifes circumstances.It is when the heart and mind are being continually filled by the spirit of grace that is how.With the knowledge that by our fathers will being done in the earth as it has been done in heaven.Hebrews 10v9,10,.. lets us knowThen said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second., 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Yes Jeus fulfilled the fathers will for us all in redeeming us all back to him because we where sold into sin by the first adam but purged back to God our father by the once and for all sacrifice of his son the second and last adam.
This is the reason Paul said to rejoice always talk to God always and give thanks to him always.
For this was always our fathers will for us all before we where, past tense sold into sin.
But now in christ we are sinless for he took away the sin of the entire world and the law that held our sin against us.
Now can we see that we are to rejoice talk to God freely and continually give him thanks.As you said cliff,Nothing can separate us from such love.
Kenneth.
I can relate to what you are saying here Cliif as at the present time I am experiencing some very trying times in my life due to the passing away of my mother. She was only sick for a week and died and we buried her this past Sunday afternoon. But you know, through all the tears and the grief, I can still thank Him because I know what He has done when He not only redeemed my mother at the cross, but the entire world as well.
I realize losing my mother is part of life, as death has to come to all of us at some point. So the circumstances I am in at this time are a normal part of being a human being and I thank Him daily for Who He is and what He has done. Yes, even in my grief and tears.
Great post Cliff.
Thank-you for all your great comments.
Roy, I know full well what it means to lose a parent and my thoughts are with you and your family. I also know that God will see you through all your grief and tears and for that I give thanks.
Roy, my condolences to you. It is good that even in the most heart wrenching of circumstances we can choose to be thankful and know that even though the world may throw much tribulation our way, that Christ has overcame it all to present us all perfect before Father.
Grace & peace
Thank you Steve for the condolences. It’s great to even be able to rejoice in hard times. The God of all comfort is just that…all comfort!!!
Amen roy he is indeed that and much more when we get to know him whom to know is life eternal.
kenneth.
Cliff, I’ve learned that being content (happy) is a choice too. But, it’s much easier to choose if the things that make us unhappy are removed from our lives. Those people and situations that frustrate, even anger, us can change drastically when we experience a fullness of life that eluded us previously. But, it’s not those people or situations that change, it’s us, and more specifically, our perception of those people and situations. It’s a change of heart in an amazing way (I think Jesus spoke of the changing heart)! Happiness, or thankfulness, can be very real if we can somehow change our reality. And that’s what the gospel of Christ is all about… “here’s a chance to change your reality. Any takers?”
Sadly, most people don’t want to change their reality… they simply want to add religion to it. And all that does is magnify our life as it already is. It doesn’t offer a chance to change. It only offers a chance to expose the unhappiness that already lives in us.
Bruce you always blow me away with your ability to put into words the simplicity of what the gospel means to us, and I also agree that getting some things out of our lives can be a big step in seeing the reality of God’s love for us.