Thankfulness

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

How can we give thanks if we're suffering from cancer, scarred by war, or wounded by divorce for example? We don't have to give thanks for all circumstances. Yet we can be thankful that all circumstances can work for our good in God's sovereignty.

For those who love God and are called according to His purposes, all things work for good. Even the crucifixion of Christ, humanly the worst thing to have ever happened, was turned around by God to the greatest good. We can and should be thankful in all circumstances.

God wants us to be thankful. He doesn’t want us like spoilt brats who are ungrateful and entitled. With the perspective of eternity we can be thankful for God's good providence.

The deathbed conversion of my grandad lead to my conversion to Christ. Even in the face of bereavement, God could and did bring good about. We must let bad circumstances drive us to God, not from Him.

'Lord You are good and Your mercies endure forever. May we always be thankful to You, for Your glory, amen'

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