See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22
“Give thanks in ALL circumstances.” … that’s a hard one to swallow and understand. Sometimes things are very difficult, painful, and hard to endure. Sometimes it’s happening to those you love so greatly and your heart aches for them. Yet… there it is … that scripture of Truth staring you in the face. Can we be grateful to God when we are in the most dire of circumstances? Can we honestly say, “Thank you God for this .. awful situation I’m now in”? Or even more — thank God for the difficulties your loved ones are going through? I think this has a lot to say about the level of our trust in Him. Do we really know Him intimately enough to know His love at a depth that we trust Him in the really difficult times? This is the challenge in front of me this morning. When anger, or loss, or so many hard circumstances are everywhere in front of you, and with all of those you love. How do we walk with Him through those times? Don’t be afraid to say to God what you are actually feeling. He actually understands — He has emotions too. Betrayal and lies being spoken about you can evoke many strong emotions. Yet again, there is this scripture, “See that on one repays evil for evil.” We are to learn His heart, His vision, His response in every circumstance, and that can only come from and through the Holy Spirit. The scripture also says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” Emotions desiring revenge and anger can lead to some very dangerous steps. At times when the circumstances are coming in hard and fast we MUST look to the Holy Spirit for the correct responses. Can we stop, breathe, and focus on Him when the crisis is raging around us?
Do you test all the ‘words’ and advice people are giving you? Do you bring it all before Christ / Holy Spirit for confirmation? Do you have that intimate relationship with Him throughout your day that you are constantly conversing with Him?
I have to admit — I am often feeling inadequate for the situations facing me. But I do realize that ‘feeling’ also makes me turn to Him for answers and strength. That when I learn what He has for me in His plan — that with Him those things will be accomplished. But I don’t think that I can use God like a genie or a magic spell to get what I want by making Him work for me and my wishes. Much of what has been taught within the “Churches’ in my opinion is closer to magic and spells than what is the real intimate relationship with Him. People want to hear things that will confirm their wrong thinking. But I rarely find that with the instruction through the Holy Spirit. He is often correcting me lovingly, firmly, and redirecting my attitudes. If I’m to get through the current circumstance correctly — I must learn to agree with His Spirit and set my will to follow Him, no matter what my wishes or emotions are screaming within me. That is the fruit of the Holy Spirit of self control.
This I know — as long as we live on this shadowland — we will be facing difficult circumstances. And looking at the coming storm culturally, economically, around the globe — it is easy to see that it’s only going to get harder for everyone. There are always circumstances for sin.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2