Rejoice Always

The apostle Paul wrote about God’s will for us very succinctly in his first letter to the Thessalonians (5:16-18):

“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

I used to really struggle with this. I used to wonder how I could rejoice and give thanks during the darkest times in life. I thought, Really, Paul? Rejoice always? Give thanks in all circumstances? Maybe you could have written, “Rejoice often. Give thanks in most circumstances.” But that’s not what he wrote, is it?

The Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast makes the point that we really can’t be grateful for everything. We can’t be grateful for violence, war, or injustice. On a personal level, we can’t be grateful for the loss of a friend, for unfaithfulness, or for bereavement.

We can’t be grateful for everything, but we can be grateful for something in every moment. Even in times of crisis, there are opportunities to learn and grow, opportunities to stand up for people in need, opportunities to make changes and move forward in new ways. And even in the most difficult times, if our eyes are open, we will always see the hand of God providing.

Let us pray: I pray today for those who are really struggling in life, for people who feel as though they are at the end of their rope. I pray that even in that place, they would know your grace, your faithfulness, and your providence. I ask you to meet them today, guide and direct them, and give them what they need to carry on. In the midst of it all, may they know your peace, which surpasses all understanding. Amen.