Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)
This year has no doubt been hard on all of us. Not many of us will be quick to heed Paul’s exhortation in today’s passage to “give thanks,” let alone “in all circumstances.” But if you’re a ponderer like me, you’ll find yourself giving thanks…in all circumstances.
See, I’ve been thinking about how the COVID-19 crisis has been a sort of exodus for me personally. Prior to the pandemic, I began to sense God leading me to make changes in certain areas of my life, but at that time I was not ready. Then Corona happened and I found myself submitting to God’s calling on my life. And isn’t that exactly what happened in the Exodus story? God was calling His people out of slavery into freedom and into the land of promises. But it took a series of plagues to get them to finally move forward into His best for them. The current pandemic has forced many of us to walk away from the things that no longer serve God’s calling and purpose for our lives. Yes, sometimes it takes something as big as a pandemic even for the strongest Christian to realize that it’s time to rise again. And for that, I’m eternally grateful!
I’m convinced that God has a purpose for your life during this pandemic. I pray that as you reflect on where He is taking you, you, too, will thank Him. Happy Thanksgiving!
Rising with the Son 