First Thessalonians chapter 5:
16 Rejoice always
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Somewhere around 1970, my father‘s friend was killed as a pedestrian walking in the street. A car hit her at night.
Her husband told my dad, "Larry, (that’s my father's name, too) I’m not thankful that my wife was killed." My dad said the scripture doesn’t say give thanks FOR all things, it says IN everything give thanks.
OK, is this just double talk, trying to make the scripture fit reality? (And not too well, either.)
No, we do not give thanks because our loved ones die, or misfortunes come upon us. That's crazy! Instead, we rejoice IN THE LORD, as it says in Philippians chapter 4. Why? Because He is here with us and going through it with us, feeling the pain with us. He has revealed Himself to us, He has revealed His love and His goodness to us, and we won't let go of it, ever!
Philippians chapter 4 verse 4 "Rejoice in the LORD ALWAYS and again I say rejoice." "Always" always includes right now! Right?
Do you think Paul and Silas were thankful for the stripes and the wounds and being locked up in the Philippian prison? No, they were not! But they were rejoicing in the LORD and singing praises because He was with them, even in the prison! They knew and were focused on His great love for them, for He had previously revealed His love and goodness. Find this in Acts chapter 16.
A few years later, in 1978, my family had the opportunity to do this very same thing! We gave thanks to the LORD for His goodness in all things, even when my brother died at age 14. We were not thankful that my brother died; we grieved, but we were thankful that the LORD was with us. He never left us. He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace!
Jesus!! Hallelujah!
Larry Carroll
