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Rejoice...

             Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonian 5:16-18)

 

            It’s easy to rejoice and give thanks when something has just turned out well, and even easier when they turn out the way we want when they seemed to be heading in a different direction. It’s not too terribly difficult to pray when things are not going well, and we have a need we can’t get met another way. But how do we do all three of these things all the time? 

            One idea that comes to mind is that when things aren’t as we would like them to be, we have the opportunity to see God at work in our lives. We can give rejoice and thanks in our anticipation as we continue to pray over the situation.

            We can rejoice and give thanks, even as we pray because we know that in addition to God’s being at work in the situation, He’s also at work in us.

            There’s another issue that – on this Mother’s Day – it’s appropriate for us to consider. Sometimes, we seem to think that we shouldn’t need to rejoice or give thanks for what God does, because (after all) it’s His job. Today’s a day when we’re supposed to show mothers gratitude for all they do for us, not the normal attitude we exhibit when we spend the rest of the year demanding her dutiful slavery.

I’ve known people who got are tired of giving gifts for which they never receive any thanks. I get irritated with them because if we “owe” them gratitude, it’s not a gift – it’s a payment. At the same time, I’ve read a meme many times that says that people work harder when they feel appreciated. I believe this is true because people tend to suffer from burnout or compassion fatigue in a way that God does not. At the same time, it is good for us to feel and acknowledge gratitude just as it is important for us to hope. 

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