16). Rejoice evermore. 17). Pray without ceasing. 18). In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
As believers, we can count on God’s presence during adversity, but, according to our Bible, he also gives us a pathway through trouble, and potential to grow. Let's explore those:
Protection. God doesn’t necessarily keep believers from distress or disappointment. Stopping the storms may be our goal, but from His point of view, the adversity may be necessary to mature us spiritually. However, the Father offers protection by staying with us in the struggle. What’s more, we have assurance that nothing can separate us from His love (ROMANS 8:38-39). So our ever-present God walks with us through the hardships, providing guidance and speaking truth into the situation.
Peace. While difficulties cause many people anxiety, God’s peace is available to us. This serenity does not depend on whether circumstances improve. Rather, it’s a result of our relationship with Him. Our main focus shouldn’t be on fixing the problem; rather, we should seek and trust the Lord.
As we recognize the Lord’s provision during trials, we can genuinely express gratitude. Doing so will enable us to fix our eyes on Him rather than on our circumstance. While we often aren’t aware of the purpose for each trial facing us, we do know that God is trustworthy and good—and He won’t waste our suffering.
-IBC
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