1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
All of us face pressure through life’s short journey. It is how you handle these pressures reflects how you maintain your relationships. I want to look into two very short verses that represent an important concept that has impacted my life and hope yours.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
These verses reflect Three Primary Commands that can serve to guide us through life’s pressures -- they are:
- Always rejoice – it represents not the circumstances, but a general attitude towards our life. The subject of joy has been discussed several times throughout the Bible. Joy is based not on outward circumstances but your inward relationship with God. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4).] In the midst of difficulties, in the midst of all situations, Christians are to rejoice. The joy of Christians is not based on agreeable circumstances instead it is based on their relationship to God. Christians will face trouble in this world, but they should rejoice in the trials they face because they know God is using those situations to improve their character (James 1:2-4). Thankfulness should characterize the Christian life in every circumstance, no thanks for everything but thanks in everything. Joy is a virtue in the Fruit of the Spirit. Is joy part of your life or has life’s pressures blocked it out?
- Continually pray – this doesn’t mean to close your eyes and pray 24/7; it also doesn’t mean to round over at night and say “dido.” Eph 6:18 suggests that we need to pray in the spirit continually, through all the ups and down of life. If a person is truly in love with some one, you are thinking about them every minute. Your decisions in life are based on and for the well being of the other person. The second thing here that should be considered -- we don’t need service at the church or around the community as a substitute for prayer…prayer and prayer alone is the key to a good relationship. Weneed to believe that everything depends on our prayers and that only through prayer life makes sense. They are also not to be used as a credit card in times of trouble. O'Lord, bail me out of this specific situation that I got myself into; sorry, I should have checked with you first! Prayer, then a general attitude for which life should be center around; continually turning to Him for guidance. Don’t let life’s pressures separate you from a relationship that is so depended on communication with the only One who can make the difference.
- Give thanks in everything – the key here is to give thanks “in everything” not “for everything. Nothing speaks more powerfully of a walk with God that continuous thankfulness. You can always be thankful for something. Paul makes clear – God is working out the purpose for our life through the good and bad times. We may not be able to see what He is doing, but what He is doing is for your best.
How can we cope successfully with the pressures of life…be joyful, pray through everything, and give thanks for all things. God can use your life’s pressures, because through your pressures you can share what God is doing, thus assisting others to get through their situation.
An Old Testament example of this was when Job lost his money, his children, and his health; he blessed the name of God in spite of his personal tragedies, not because of them.
