16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith;
17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer;
18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Amplified Bible
I used to read these verses with a sense that God was expecting waaay too much of me. Always rejoicing? But I’m often unhappy. Unceasing in prayer? But I’m easily distracted. Thankful in all circumstances? But in painful and difficult circumstances, gratitude is the last thing I feel. I just want it to stop.
But just recently I kept reading. And it turns out that there is a good reason behind those troubles!
19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.
The New International Reader’s Version puts it this way:
“Don’t try to stop what the Holy Spirit is doing.“
So, what does the Holy Spirit do?
The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds me.
The Holy Spirit guides me,
The Holy Spirit gives me the right words in tight situations.
The Holy Spirit gives me the power to speak of Christ.
The Holy Spirit prays with me – and for me.
The Holy Spirit channels God’s love into me, using my sufferings for my good and God’s glory.
Maybe if I try resentfully to wriggle out of my troubles, I prolong them. Maybe I diminish their value if I whine and complain. Maybe I doom myself to repeat the hard lessons because I didn’t pay attention in class. And maybe people can’t see Christ in me because I’m angry. I don’t want that!
So, maybe it’s time to stop resisting and let the Holy Spirit transform me into what God always intended me to be. And perhaps becoming that person is reason enough to be grateful for the process.
