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 (NIV)
As we move through life we experience change, new
opportunities, big and small decisions, alike. We wonder if we’re supposed to
help this person, take that job, buy this home, or move to another state. There
are so many “should I” questions and “what if” muses of reflection. Sometimes
we find ourselves dwelling over past decisions, wondering if we’ve done or said
the right thing. We also worry over the future—wondering what might happen, not
happen, and how we’ll respond to these things that haven’t even happened yet. God
has a simple (but not easy) remedy for this.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we find our answer—God’s will and
purpose for our lives. It says we should rejoice always. We can rejoice every day knowing God has blessed us with
another chance at life, starting with a morning sunrise. We are instructed to
pray continually—be in constant communion with God. Lastly, we are encouraged
to give thanks in all circumstances—if we search hard enough, there is always
at least one thing we can be thankful for each day. If we follow these
guidelines for living in God’s will, we won’t need to dwell on the past or
worry over the future. We can rejoice in this moment, pray our worries away,
and give thanks for all of God’s blessings in our lives.
