Have you ever stopped and really thought about this verse? "In every thing give thanks." Most people would stop right there and say, "Well, how can you be thankful for every thing? What about the bad things?" Yes, we can be thankful for even the "bad" things that happen in our lives. Some of you are probably thinking that I'm out to lunch, but just bear with me and let me explain some things to you.
God has a reason for everything that happens in our lives. Some we can readily see the reason, and others we might not fully understand until we get to Heaven, but there is a Godly reason for every thing. This is when faith becomes so important to the child of God...faith that our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us.
Isaiah 55:8 & 9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
We cannot and will not always understand why God allows things to happen to us. Sometimes it will be so that farther down the road in our life we can be a help to someone who is going through what we've already experienced. Other times it might be to just strengthen our own faith and trust in the Lord. Or perhaps it is so the unsaved can see the Lord revealed in our lives as we live for Him despite what happens to us. Whatever the reason God has for allowing hardships and trials in our lives, we are to be thankful, because there is a Godly reason and it is His will.
We see this played out in the life of Joseph in Genesis.
Genesis 37:28 "Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they (Joseph's brothers) drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."
We are told in verse 2 of this chapter that Joseph was 17 years old. Can you imagine how this teenager felt, to be stripped of his coat his father had made him ( verse 23) and thrown into this empty pit (verse 24) by his own brothers? Then to be sold as a slave and taken to a distant and strange country? Why? Well, God had a reason which was not yet apparent. Over the years that Joseph was a slave in Egypt, he gained an excellent reputation for being honest and hardworking. He was eventually put to work in the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, and captain of the guards.
Genesis 39:2 & 3 "And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man: and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand."
Genesis 39: 6b "And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured."
How would we have reacted if we had been sold as a slave? Would we spend the rest of our lives wallowing in self-pity? Would we be depressed about our situation and be constantly lamenting to anyone who would listen about our unfair treatment and circumstances? In all honesty that would probably pretty much describe how I would react, and if you are honest it would probably be your reaction as well. But this young man did not bemoan his predicament! He lived an Godly upright life in the land of his captivity in front of his captors.
God prospered Joseph in Egypt, even though he was only a servant. However up to this time no reason could yet be seen as to why God had allowed Joseph to be sold as a slave in the first place. All through these years though, Joseph remained faithful to his God.
Then a famine came upon all the land. The Lord had shown Joseph in a dream about the coming famine. Because of Josephs Godly life he had the ear of Pharaoh, and so Egypt was prepared and had stored up provisions. Chapter 43 verse 1 says that the famine was sore in the land. One day visitors came from another country seeking food...it was Josephs brothers! The end of this story see's Joseph bringing his whole family down into Egypt and thus saving them from starvation. The Lord had placed Joseph years before in the very place where he would need to be to help his family. Joseph tells his brothers in Genesis 45:5 "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." God's hand had been in everything that happened, even though it was years before that was made plain.
No matter what happens to us, I doubt any of us will face the devastating changes that Joseph faced in his life. Yet we complain and murmur about the difficulties that come into our lives, forgetting that the same God that Joseph served is the One that is in control! What God allows is always best, therefore we can... "In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I look back on the difficulties that I've experienced in my life. At the time they weren't enjoyable, I couldn't see the purpose. However today these same terrible things have provided me with a ministry of helping others that are going through the same things. I can testify to them of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord in the midst of the storms in our lives...therefore I can give thanks! When we see the hand of God in shaping our lives, then we will be able to thank Him for what He brings into our lives.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
God never moves without purpose of plan,
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.
I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.
Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.
O rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.
Ron Hamilton
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