Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thes. 5:16-18 NIV)
Sometimes the most “cheerful” words in the Bible are the hardest to live out. In these two passages Paul is reminding us that God is in control and that he wants us to come to him in prayer no matter what. No problem, right?
But, really? Don’t be anxious about anything? There’s so much in our crazy world that can lead to anxiety. But God says to use prayer and thanksgiving – in EVERY situation – to ask for God’s help. “Every situation” means “every situation.” In every situation we come to our faithful God asking in faith, sharing our thanks for what God has done, is doing, and will do, and trusting that he responds – in EVERY situation. Even when we can’t see the response yet.
Then Paul tells us to “rejoice always.” Really?!? “Always??” That’s, like, all the time and in all circumstances. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be much to rejoice about. Life on this earth – especially if lived without God – can seem overwhelming, terrible, and hopeless. But when we live life in relationship with God we can always find at least one thing to be thankful about. Did you wake up breathing today? Did the sun come up (even if behind the clouds)? Do you have electricity? Often when we find one thing with which to give thanks, we then realize how many other things are also worth thanks.
I do not believe that our rotten circumstances are necessarily God’s will for us. If Jesus wants to give us the abundant life (John 10:10) then “abundance” includes love, joy, peace, hope, grace, and so much more. Rotten circumstances are, ultimately, the result of the enemy of our souls, stealing, killing, destroying lives, relationships, resources, etc. While I believe God allows this to happen (for what reasons I don’t usually know or understand), I do not believe that this is what God intended for us.
Can God use rotten circumstances to refine and improve our character and our understanding of who God is? Absolutely. But just because God can work all things together for good for those who love him, doesn’t mean he wants us to have trials, death, and destruction. God’s purpose for us – God’s will for our lives – is to know his love, joy, hope, grace, mercy, and peace.
No matter the circumstances I believe that God wants to give us his Peace. That “shalom” is beyond everything we could understand without God. And it guards our hearts and our minds – our spirits, our words, our deeds, our thoughts, our hopes – because of Christ Jesus. God’s Peace gives us Hope in the midst of rotten circumstances.
Is not being anxious but rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances easier said than done? Yes. But it’s still do-able. And, like anything we practice, the more we do it the easier it becomes.
For anything, in everything, bring it to God.
Father God,
Thank you that in all things – not “for” all things – but “in” all things – we can rejoice in you, your faithfulness, your provision, your grace, and so much more. Thank you that by the Blood of Christ you have made a way for us to draw near to you. Thank you that we can bring all our hurts, struggles, anxieties, and confusion to you and that you will hear us when we pray. Holy Spirit, help us to saturate each day in prayer, offering our faith-filled requests to you with overflowing gratitude. Help us to tell you each detail of our lives, knowing that your perfect plan for us is a life lived within the grace of Jesus Christ, so that your joy is our continual feast . Help us to remember that you can work all things together for our good – for an abundant life – and that your wonderful peace that transcends our understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. Help us in everything and for anything to bring it to you. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 4:6-7 TPT)
“Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes. 5:16-18 TPT)
“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!” (John 10:10 TPT)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)