When you find yourself wondering what God’s will is, shift from searching for his hidden will to his revealed will.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Joyfully get out of bed. Joyfully battle allergies or arthritis. Joyfully accept fair criticism or unfair injustice.
“Rejoice always.” God gives what you need and says, “Way to go! You and I can handle it!”
Just as God gives us joy all the time, so God gives us his ear all the time. God never tires of us asking. As a matter of fact, he regularly urges us to ask more often, to spend more time coming to him, and ask for more things. And keep going. “Pray continually.”
So why did you stop praying the last time you prayed? If you ran out of things to ask for, then try to challenge God a bit more next time (if that’s the right word). He loves it when you come to him and stop pretending you have it all together. It means you believe that he does have it all together. And he’s willing to let you in on it.
That means we can “give thanks in all circumstances.” I’m not sure I’ve always understood the amazing goodness and promise of God in these words, but I’m trying to learn and practice them better. There is nothing, no situation, no messy circumstances, no letdown or bad news, no terrible day, no broken relationship or painful loss, where I cannot say, “thank you, God, for what is happening.”
We say “thank you” when people give us things or do good things. So in every circumstance God is giving us something or doing something good. That’s why we say that God is good. All. The. Time.
When you’re wondering what God’s will is for this week or this afternoon, here it is. Don’t search too deeply. Don’t try to understand the hidden secrets of the mind of God. Look here where God clearly says, “Here is my will.”
Have more joy. Pray all the time. Give thanks for everything. Nobody can take that away from you. “This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for everything that is happening in my life. I joyfully trust that there is good in it because you are in it. I expectantly ask for your will to be more important to me than mine. May it be done. Amen.
PRACTICE THIS: When you find yourself wondering what God’s will is, shift from searching for his hidden will to his revealed will. Practice joy wherever you are. Pray about it. And replace complaining with praising.