joyful thanksgiving

Many of you know our family got a great report last week. Latest tests reveal there is no measurable cancer in my blood or bone marrow. How thankful we are!

My mom told us this news was announced Sunday in the church where I grew up and shouts of joy erupted in the auditorium. She said chills ran up and down her spine. I’ve noticed almost all the notes and e-mails I have received begin with words like these: “Thank you, God!” “Praise the Lord!” “Hallelujah!”… People are so happy for me, but the praise is going to our Father in Heaven – where it belongs!

I’ve thought lately about the words found in I Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” How easy it is to give thanks now. How joyful I am about God’s will for me today in Christ Jesus. But what about tomorrow? And what did this passage mean a year ago? Last year, it made sense to pray continually, but was it possible to be joyful? Could I have really given thanks in the midst of sickness and difficulty? Was last year God’s will for me in Christ Jesus?

Suppose last year, God said to me, “Dana, you are going to have a hard year. But if you endure, I shall receive much praise from many people.” Would I have replied, “Thank you Lord! I’ll gladly go through anything that will bring you praise”? Or suppose the Lord had said, “Dana, I’m going to allow you and your family to go through a trial like you have never experienced. But if you hold to Me in faith, I will let this difficulty make you a stronger follower of Mine.” Would I have replied, “Lord, I know I need to be stronger. I’ll thank you for anything you put me through to bring this about”?

Paul once prayed, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him…” (Romans 15:13). So much depends on us simply trusting the Lord. If we love Him; if we’ve been called according to His purpose; “we know that all things work together for good.” Will I trust Him in this? If I do, my heart can be filled with joy and thanksgiving – for I am in His will. What safer place is there? It may not be an easy place, but Jesus has already led the way! “For the joy set before Him”, He endured the cross. He prayed that His followers might have “the full measure” of His joy. The joy of Jesus did not depend upon a painless walk, but on His relationship with the Father – so it is for us!

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12

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