“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”           1 Thessalonians 4:18.  How often the other college students in Bible study and I debated this scripture.  How can one give thanks in everything?  Aren’t there some things that we just really aren’t thankful for?  Isn’t it hypocritical to tell God “thank you” when we know we aren’t thankful?  As young adults, we just couldn’t imagine why God would tell us to do this or how we even could.

It is the difficult times in life that can teach us how to live above the circumstances in Jesus.  It is the hard times–loss of job, loss of friends, death, illness, broken hearts, natural disasters, and such–that  make us reach out to God for strength just to get through each day.  The more we reach out to Him in Christ, the more real He becomes to us.  The more I have depended upon Him, the more faithful I realize He is.  In my darkest hours, Jesus has been my light.  Even when I brought pain upon myself by my stubborn heart, He reached down and picked me up out of the pit and set my feet on the Rock.  His extending such mercy and compassion on this guilty sinner leaves me in awe of Him.

Years later, looking back at my life with Jesus, it has been those hard, painful times that I have been pushed into Jesus. That is where I learned that He is able to meet all my needs. He is able to give peace beyond understanding when the world caves in around me. He is able to take me through the waters when I thought I would drown. Because of His faithfulness to me, He is my life, my joy, my guide and comforter. I can’t wait to see Him face to face. But until then, I will give thanks in all circumstances because He is with me and I know Him, therefore, I can trust His heart.