Good day, good people! This is the day that the Lord has made; never forget that. Regardless of what you face in the morning, afternoon, or evening, this day is a gift to you and me, so let’s cherish it.
Have you ever noticed how we complain about the traffic or when our cars have problems? Then a thought came to mind: imagine if we didn’t have cars and we had to walk to work or school. Some of us would even be walking for more than two hours. The car has been working all along, and regardless of traffic, we still arrive where we are going, so why, when the car is not working, is the very best thing to do to complain or, when we are stuck in traffic? And this is just one example of many to show us that the circumstances won’t be favorable. But in every circumstance, we have a choice to be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV): Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I think now we see why God is displeased with complaints, because giving thanks is His will for us. And note that Apostle Paul is not telling them to avoid unfavorable circumstances or act as if they are not there. In verse 16, he tells them to “rejoice always.” So “always” suggests that there will come times when rejoicing doesn’t seem like an option, but he tells them that they have to find something; there’s always something. Here is an interesting story to illustrate that:
It is the story of an elderly blind woman who was being moved to a nursing home. When she arrived, she was taken to her room. She entered and told her attendant enthusiastically, “I love it!” The attendant questioned the woman, “How can you say you love it when you’ve never been in it before, and you can’t see what it looks like?” The woman spoke up, “Seeing the room doesn’t have anything to do with it. Happiness is my choice. I have decided to love my room. Every morning, I have a choice on whether I focus on what I don’t like about my life or what I do like about it. I’m choosing right now to love the new room where I’m going to live.”
Takeaway: What is one thing for which you are grateful at this moment?
Prayer: Abba, Father, we thank you in Jesus’ name. Ameni!