Thank God in All Things- SERIES 3

1 THESSALONIAN 5:16-18

 

It seems odd to say that we have to rejoice in our storms and now it is more peculiar that we need to thank God in all things.

In this third series of Rejoicing in our storms, we need to recognize that whatever storms we are into, we have to thank and acknowledge God that He is always in control.

IT HAPPENS FOR A PURPOSE

We thank God in everything because in all our circumstances God has always a purpose.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 says that “in all circumstances give thanks to the Lord for it is the will of God.”

Paul is encouraging us to be grateful to God for there is something hidden in every storm we are into.

It is not easy to thank God in all our situations especially when all hell breaks loss and almost everything starts to rock your boat.

In Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it good in order to bring about this present result to preserve the people alive.

In every circumstance happening in our life, nothing just happens.

It happens for a purpose.

When there is no way, God will make the way.

LAUGHING AT OUR PROBLEMS

David in his Psalm says that this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We rejoice in our situations because whatever conditions we are in, God has created them for good.

I believe that there is always a miracle in disguise. It may be a problem for now but there is something to be learned in every problem we have that molds us and harness our potential to be a better person.

Have we realized that when we try to look back on so many problems that we have in the past, we laugh at them now?

We were sleepless, we may be having that much stress before but we can easily talk about it right now.

In some other way, we are thankful that we passed through that series of problems, tests, difficulties, and trials; because with that experience, we can say that it helps us to face challenges easier, further experience, and be more adept in handling situations.

LOOKING AT THE PAST

After I graduated from High school in 1991, sad news came to me when the textile company where my father was working closed its operation and declare bankruptcy.

It means I will not be enrolling in college.

I retreated and hide from my classmates because I felt shy about not pursuing college.

I went to Manila and started to work as a part-time factory worker, a helper- dishwasher in Carenderia in Quezon City accepting the life that was never in my dreams.

My father started his own ice cream business from the separation pay he received from his previous company and was able to put up one pushcart “sorbets”.

From that single pushcart “sorbets”, he managed to acquire another one for me.

It was the beginning of my being a “Sorbetero “ or an ice cream vendor.

With the blessings that came into our lives, I enrolled later to pursue my college education. Studying during the weekdays, a Sorbetero during the weekend, and summer vacations.

There was one particular spot in my route where I have the most difficulty pushing the cart up the inclined and stiff road. The easy way to push the cart up is to move it forward in a zigzag motion.

Reaching the top of that road lead me to rest and pause praying to God that I will not be Sorbetero forever.

I did it for five years and the last time that I went out to sell and push that ice cream cart was right after I passed the Civil Engineering board examination.

GRATEFUL FOR OUR EXPERIENCE

The good thing about those experiences, we learned to thank God because despite our situations God never failed us during those rainy days.

God used those situations in our life to trust Him that His grace is sufficient and more than enough.

God had given us that ice cream so that I and my brothers could be able to finish our studies.

Before I was shy and asked God what had happened; but now I am proud and grateful for it.

The road that we may be walking right now is not the road you dream of, but never worry as God will be the one to direct our path.

HEALTHIEST EMOTIONS

The healthiness of our emotion is gratitude.

Gratitude increases our immunities and helps us to be resistant to any stress and be less susceptible to illness.

Because ungrateful people are miserable and nothing will make them happy.

Men with ungrateful attitudes have a miserable spirit.

A heart that is not contented; even if you give him everything, nothing will make him happy.

May God sustain you with a grateful spirit even amid the storm,

Mikesendon