Rejoicing in All Circumstances
Ask any rancher what it’s like to go through a dry spell. The ground cracks, the grass turns brittle, and every day you look to the sky, wondering when the rain will finally come. You can mend fences, feed cattle, and do everything in your power, but there’s one thing you can’t control, the clouds.
In those moments, you learn something important: you can either give in to worry, or you can choose to live with trust. You keep working the land, caring for what’s in front of you, and believing that in the right time, God will send the rain.
That picture is what comes to mind when I read Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Paul’s not talking about something easy here. His own life was full of hardship, shipwrecks, beatings, hunger, sleepless nights, even prison cells. If anyone had a reason to complain, it was Paul. And yet, his instructions to the church are simple and direct: rejoice, pray, and give thanks. He’s not asking us to deny reality; he’s pointing us toward a deeper reality; God’s faithfulness that never shifts.
Rejoice always.
The rancher doesn’t rejoice because it’s dry, he rejoices because he knows rain will come. His hope isn’t rooted in what his eyes see that day but in the truth that seasons don’t last forever.
Our joy works the same way. We don’t rejoice because every detail of life is going our way. We rejoice because God’s character doesn’t change, even when our circumstances do. Joy is anchored in the truth that Jesus has already won the victory, that we belong to Him, and that nothing can snatch us out of His hand.
Choosing joy is a deliberate act of faith. It shifts our attention from the weight of our problems to the reality of God’s promises. It reminds us that while our struggles are temporary, His love is eternal.
Pray continually.
Prayer isn’t meant to be a once-a-day ritual or something reserved for Sundays. It’s a way of walking through life with God.
For me, that often happens in my Expedition. I spend a lot of hours on the road, and those long stretches of highway have turned into some of my best prayer times. Sometimes I’ll even switch off my audiobook or podcast and just drive with God. No folded hands, no scripted words, just me talking to Him as if He were riding in the passenger seat. Sometimes I pour out what’s weighing on me. Sometimes I ask for direction. Other times I just ride in silence, knowing He’s there.
That’s what Paul is getting at. Prayer isn’t about polished words; it’s about presence. It’s choosing to keep the conversation with God going, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. It’s as simple as a whispered “Lord, help me” in the middle of a stressful moment or a quiet “thank You” when something small goes right. Over time, it builds a rhythm of relationship that steadies you through the ups and downs of life.
Give thanks in all circumstances.
Notice it doesn’t say for all circumstances, but in them. We don’t have to be thankful for hardship, loss, or pain. But even in the middle of those things, there’s always something we can thank God for; His presence, His love, His promises that hold steady when everything else feels shaky.
Gratitude has a way of changing our perspective. It pulls our eyes off what’s missing or broken and reminds us of what’s still good, of where God has been faithful before, and of the hope we still carry.
Living it out.
Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks won’t erase the hard stuff in life but they will change how we walk through it. These practices anchor us when life gets stormy. They remind us that God is steady, present, and working all things for good.
So maybe this week, try carrying this verse with you. Write it on a sticky note, save it as your phone background, or memorize it so it’s right there when life feels overwhelming:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.”
And as you do, don’t be surprised if your perspective starts to shift. The problems may still be there, but so will a deeper peace and a joy the world can’t take away.
In those moments, you learn something important: you can either give in to worry, or you can choose to live with trust. You keep working the land, caring for what’s in front of you, and believing that in the right time, God will send the rain.
That picture is what comes to mind when I read Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Paul’s not talking about something easy here. His own life was full of hardship, shipwrecks, beatings, hunger, sleepless nights, even prison cells. If anyone had a reason to complain, it was Paul. And yet, his instructions to the church are simple and direct: rejoice, pray, and give thanks. He’s not asking us to deny reality; he’s pointing us toward a deeper reality; God’s faithfulness that never shifts.
Rejoice always.
The rancher doesn’t rejoice because it’s dry, he rejoices because he knows rain will come. His hope isn’t rooted in what his eyes see that day but in the truth that seasons don’t last forever.
Our joy works the same way. We don’t rejoice because every detail of life is going our way. We rejoice because God’s character doesn’t change, even when our circumstances do. Joy is anchored in the truth that Jesus has already won the victory, that we belong to Him, and that nothing can snatch us out of His hand.
Choosing joy is a deliberate act of faith. It shifts our attention from the weight of our problems to the reality of God’s promises. It reminds us that while our struggles are temporary, His love is eternal.
Pray continually.
Prayer isn’t meant to be a once-a-day ritual or something reserved for Sundays. It’s a way of walking through life with God.
For me, that often happens in my Expedition. I spend a lot of hours on the road, and those long stretches of highway have turned into some of my best prayer times. Sometimes I’ll even switch off my audiobook or podcast and just drive with God. No folded hands, no scripted words, just me talking to Him as if He were riding in the passenger seat. Sometimes I pour out what’s weighing on me. Sometimes I ask for direction. Other times I just ride in silence, knowing He’s there.
That’s what Paul is getting at. Prayer isn’t about polished words; it’s about presence. It’s choosing to keep the conversation with God going, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. It’s as simple as a whispered “Lord, help me” in the middle of a stressful moment or a quiet “thank You” when something small goes right. Over time, it builds a rhythm of relationship that steadies you through the ups and downs of life.
Give thanks in all circumstances.
Notice it doesn’t say for all circumstances, but in them. We don’t have to be thankful for hardship, loss, or pain. But even in the middle of those things, there’s always something we can thank God for; His presence, His love, His promises that hold steady when everything else feels shaky.
Gratitude has a way of changing our perspective. It pulls our eyes off what’s missing or broken and reminds us of what’s still good, of where God has been faithful before, and of the hope we still carry.
Living it out.
Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks won’t erase the hard stuff in life but they will change how we walk through it. These practices anchor us when life gets stormy. They remind us that God is steady, present, and working all things for good.
So maybe this week, try carrying this verse with you. Write it on a sticky note, save it as your phone background, or memorize it so it’s right there when life feels overwhelming:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.”
And as you do, don’t be surprised if your perspective starts to shift. The problems may still be there, but so will a deeper peace and a joy the world can’t take away.
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