Doing What the Bible Says

01/21/2009

[Note: This was originally posted on my fighterverse.com site, but I have since given it up. It attempt to archive a few of the things I wrote, I am reposting it here on the original date that I wrote it.]

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 ESV)

Considering my recent circumstances, learning this verse has helped me a great deal. My husband has been somewhat fainthearted – sad because he lost a job he loved, weary from the emotional weight, and struggling to reorient himself to looking for a job. And what am I to do? Encourage him. Be patient with him.
While it has been easier than usual to “pray without ceasing” (isn’t it always easier when life is hard? I need to remember to pray without ceasing even when things are going well…), it has been more of a challenge to “rejoice always” and “give thanks in all circumstances.”
After my husband lost his job, my son got the stomach flu and threw up around 10 times during the night. The next day, I got it, and couldn’t keep any food down for a good 48 hours. The following day, you guessed it, Josh was sick too. So, here I am, trying to comfort my son and husband while feeling my own stomach revolt against me… and rejoice??? Give thanks???
This is why I am so thankful for Scripture. There are so many times when I think, “Well, the Bible says to do it so I’m just going to do it even though I don’t feel like it.” So, I started rejoicing and giving thanks for anything I could think of. Then God was gracious and continued to open my eyes to His goodness, His redemption, His grace and mercy.
Praises to the great God of Comfort, who continues to reveal His great mercies to me and my family.