“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” [1 Thessalonians 5:18]
AS TRUE BELIEVERS, we want to know God’s will for our lives, especially when it comes to major, life-ordering decisions. But interestingly, when we go to the Scripture for insight on discerning His will, we don’t find a lot about things to do, places to go, or people to meet. That’s because God’s will is not so much a place, a job, or a specific mate as it is a heart and a lifestyle.
And according to the verse above, one fundamental aspect of that lifestyle is an attitude of gratitude.
Sure, details matter to God. And He can give us the wisdom to make decisions about those details as we seek Him and walk in line with the principles of His Word. But live long enough, and you find that the choices only change by year, degree, and color. A decision that’s huge today is soon replaced by yet another batch of issues and options for the next season of life.
That’s when you discover that the will of God is a whole lot bigger and broader than fine-print details and exact measurements. Instead it’s characterized by a handful of simple constants that overshadow your specific questions and your appeals for direction. In other words, you may find yourself a lot closer to hearing God’s heart on a certain matter, not by making pro- and con- lists or anguishing between multiple options but simply by doing what you already know to be His will.
So when faced with perplexing circumstances, when you don’t know what to do or which way to go, give thanks—and you’ll likely find Him giving the discernment you need to make wise, God-honoring decisions.
Are you seeking to discern God’s will for a particular decision or area of your life? Are you obeying the parts of His will that you already know? How about the matter of “giving thanks in all circumstances”? [The Quiet Place]
