Being Thankful in Unfavorable Circumstances

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ERV )16 Always be full of joy. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

All pictures taken and edited by Lesli Allyn unless otherwise stated

You may read  verse  with a  huge  question mark over your head especially when your  current  situation is  less than favorable.   "Whatever happens always be thankful ,  Always be  full of  joy"   How can  I be   when I am in  pain, my heart is  broken and I  have no clue what my next steps are?

There is  more to  the verse you just have to  dig a  little  deeper.   God isn't asking you  to  mask your pain and simply gloss over  your situation.  This  verse encourages  meet your  problems head on and  actively pursue  joy  and heart that is grateful.  Remember God wouldn't drop you in a place/situation that He wouldn't equip you  get through and  find  victory on the other side.  

The season you find yourself in  may be a means to  eliminate any distraction, grow you and  confirm that  you must  rely  on God fully  for  everything.   Joy  comes from God   circumstantial   happiness is fleeting  and can  be totally  dependent on  a person , material things  or a job. Are What you need is something more substantial  and that's the love and  joy that validates, heals , renews  and that is  given freely by the God  that created you.

Don't lose  focus  God is present even  when you feel like you are at a standstill.   Remember there is  purpose for your  pain something you need to learn or experience so that you will be fully capable  of helping someone  else  who may find themselves in a  similar situation.  The  good  news is you will get through this  and  things  will not always be this way and you will be a stronger  person having survived this  season in your life so  keep going!

Love,