By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus." - GNB
The encouragement to be joyful always, pray at all times, and be thankful in all circumstances doesn’t mean everything is alright all the time. It is a recognition that even in the worst of situations, God is greater and has good plans that transcend the evil and tough situations. He turns them around for good. No circumstance, however horrible, should kill our spirit.
The attitude with which we approach life’s challenges makes the whole difference. A thankful heart will make us see the good out of the worst, enabling us bounce back, and use the situation as a step to greater things. A negative attitude will sink us further down, destroying even the little left of devastating occurrences. We have to choose how to respond to all life’s circumstances. It will determine how we move on thereafter, whether we are destroyed or rise up again and move with our heads high and a smile on our faces.
Paul suffered greatly. He wrote from experience. By rejoicing in severe trials, he looked beyond the present pain into the glory ahead, to a God Who works all things for good. If we faced life with this attitude, no mountain would be to high to climb, nor any valley too low to cross. Our minds would be set on victory whatever the present situation. This is the winning attitude. Choose it today with God’s help as Paul wrote from prison to the church at Philipi:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4
Shalom children of God.