Be Joyful ALWAYS??? Give Thanks in ALL Circumstances???

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Count your joy-blessings and they will seem to multiply!

            Let’s choose to focus on the blessings that are ours, rather than complaining about what we don’t have! Our hearts will be much more thankful and joyful.  We may be able to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with a new excitement. There is a verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that reminds us that we should:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

           

            Now, I don’t know about you, but I have really had to study on that one. Really God??? Give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES?  What about in sickness?  What about when there is a terrible accident?  What about when someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness?  Can we give thanks THEN?  The key word in the verse is a tiny little, two-letter word…IN…IN all circumstances.  It does not say BECAUSE of the difficult thing that’s happening.  Nor does it say “give thanks FOR these situations”.  It says “Give thanks IN all circumstances!”  We, as Christians, can do that, because we know that our God will always be there walking with us through the tough times.  He has promised “never to leave us”. And He is true to His Word.  That’s why we can always be thankful.

            As we prepare for Thanksgiving Day, may we give thanks IN ALL circumstances.  Let’s find the joy-gifts in each and every day.