In Everything Give Thanks

Good morning.

Today’s thought comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 (NKJV):

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you… Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

One part of this passage really stood out to me today:

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

That’s not always easy to do.

It’s easy to thank God for our family, our home, our health, and our salvation. But what about the little things? What about the inconveniences? What about the delays?

Over the past several months, I’ve made it a point to thank God every single day for something different. At first, it seems easy. But after a while, you begin to realize how many blessings you overlook every day.

The next time you’re stuck in traffic, instead of getting frustrated, thank God that you have a vehicle to drive. If the traffic is caused by an accident, thank Him for His protection over you, and take a moment to pray for those who were involved.

When you seem to hit every red light, instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” ask, “Lord, what might You be protecting me from?”

I’ve experienced this more than once. There have been times I was delayed leaving the office and found myself frustrated. A few minutes later, I came upon an accident that had obviously just happened. Had I left when I wanted to, I may have been the one involved.

Was it coincidence?

Maybe.

Was it God’s protection?

I believe it was.

The truth is, we don’t always get to know why God allows delays in our lives. But we can trust that His timing is always perfect.

Sometimes what feels like an obstacle is actually God’s protection.

Sometimes what feels like a setback is really God’s setup.

Today, I encourage you to thank God for something you’ve never thanked Him for before. Look beyond the obvious blessings. Thank Him for the interruptions, the quiet moments, the unexpected opportunities, and even the unanswered prayers that He answered differently than you hoped.

A grateful heart changes your perspective. Instead of focusing on what’s going wrong, you begin to recognize how faithful God has been all along.

Have a blessed day, everyone.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in every season of life. Help us to give thanks not only when everything is going well, but in every circumstance. Open our eyes to see Your hand at work in the ordinary moments, in the delays, and even in the disappointments. Teach us to trust Your timing more than our own and to believe that You are always working for our good. Give us hearts that are quick to praise, quick to pray, and quick to recognize Your countless blessings each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

— Rev. Carlos Figueroa
TheFreeBible.Org