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"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Writing to a church that is young in their faith, and facing persecution, Paul wraps up his encouraging letter with these words that ring true for us today. None of us completely controls our circumstances. Loss, grief, and suffering are all a part of human existence. Yet God’s will for us is that we fix our eyes on Him, and seek first His kingdom. For when we do so, we know the peace that passes understanding, because God is greater than our circumstances.
It is in this hope that we are called to pray continuously, giving thanks that we can call on a God who is greater than our plight, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). And it is in this truth that we rejoice, not just with fleeting happiness, but with a sustained joy that is born of the Spirit and displayed in our attitudes and actions.
