Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Daily Devotional – Saturday, January 29, 2022

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

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

A man complains to a rabbi about the inconvenience of living in one room with eight other people.  The rabbi gives the dissatisfied man a rather strange solution. “Take your goat and live with it in the room.”

The man cannot believe what he hears. He protest but the rabbi insists, and tells the man to return after a week for further consultations. Although he cannot comprehend how this will solve his problem, the man leaves and obeys.

This is Unbearable

After seven days, the man returns, this time in more distress. “Rabbi, we’ve had it. Living with the goat is unbearable. We cannot bear the constant bleating, the droppings and the foul smell. Your proposed solution made things worse.”

The rabbi smiles. “Don’t worry, my son. Try one more solution. Remove the goat from the house and return in a week’s time.” The unconvinced man leaves. He does as the rabbi has instructed him.

Seven days later, he returns, this time beaming with joy. “Thank you, rabbi,” he says. “We have never enjoyed life as we do now. With the filthy goat gone, the nine of us are very happy.”

Appreciating Value When We Lose It

Now, is the last situation not the same as the first? There are still nine people living together, but now they appreciate one another more. The introduction of the goat made them realize there were worse situations than living together in one room.

We seldom appreciate the value of something or somebody until we lose it. Both good and bad situations are tools that God uses to shape and bless our lives. Therefore, we must learn to thank God always.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Paul exhorted the Christians at Thessaloniki, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). God desires to see an attitude of gratitude in His children.

Let us state the obvious but critical. You are reading this devotional because you are alive. Hundreds of people died today. You are in good health. Some hospitals are full with the sick. Thank God!

You ate well today while somebody somewhere died of hunger. You have a job in a world where many are unemployed. If you are jobless, you still have the strength to go out and look for work. Praise the Lord!

What Will You Focus On?

You have a family. Some have none. Your family is imperfect. At least you have someone who cares about you. You have a wayward child. Someone cries day and night for a child like yours. Thank Jesus!

Let us not be like the man who went to see the rabbi only to be reminded to thank God for his eight roommates. We can choose to focus on and celebrate the blessings we have or concentrate on and mourn about what we lack.

Loving Father, thank You for my good and unwelcome circumstances. I know You have good intentions in all Your doings.