Theme: ANXIETY
Text: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” – Colossians 3:15.
Comment: Peace is a condition of calm and serenity, with no anxiety. When we are anxious, thankfulness may not be automatic or spontaneous. We have to do it deliberately by faith. Thanksgiving in a time of trials reflects three things: (1) Remembrance of God’s supply in the past. We think back over His faithfulness to us up to this point and realize that His mercies have sustained us. He has been with us in every trial. He never abandons or forsakes His children, even if we face persecution or death for His sake. (Psalm 121:1-5) (2) Submission to God’s sovereignty in the present. To thank God in the midst of a crisis or trial is to submit to the sovereign purpose God. We are not just to thank God when we feel like, but all the time – even as Job did. (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Job 1:21) (3) Trust in God’s sufficiency for the future. A thankful heart rests upon the all-sufficient God, knowing that even though we don’t know how He is going to do it, He will meet our every need as we cast ourselves on Him. (Jeremiah 32:17) James the Apostle states: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4.