A prayer to stop and praise God when things go wrong
Ashley Moore
Bible Reading:
“Thank you for all circumstances. This is the will of the God of Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV.
Listen or read:
Bad days and hard seasons deceive us to make us think we are living a bad life, right? You can quickly spiral from difficult situations to the following thought patterns:
If God loves me so much, why does he make this happen? Why does everyone else seem to lead such a happy and easy life, and why is mine so difficult, or what’s wrong with me? Why can’t I organize my actions?
Trouble will help us gain tunnel vision. Our views become smaller as we transcend all the complicated parts of the situation. We lose our perspective on what the Lord may want to use this difficulties for our growth and sanctification. Even if we recognize these things, our minds are not yet a place to embrace them.
Can I make an honest confession? Sometimes I just want to cover up in troublesome situations. Often I resist what the Lord is trying to teach me because I want to be angry, clubbee or whimper about it for a while. Or maybe I feel sad. I want to stay there because it’s easier than thinking about things from a God’s point of view.
Don’t listen to me say this next part and I think you are suggesting that you overcome your feelings soon. That’s not what I’m saying. Created with the image of God, we have emotions because our emotions have emotions. But we often allow our feelings to lose sight of our Savior, rather than urge us to draw near him.
God tells us to come to Him when we are tired and heavy (Matthew 11:28). And this passage does not have a disclaimer for putting together our actions first. He doesn’t say he’ll sort everything out before we come. Or we have to dry our tears before we come. Or make sure that he is perfectly consistent with what he is saying before we come, and that we are fully agreed. No, he says he’s coming. And when we come, he takes the weight of our load, and exchanges it for rest, peace, and guidance, as he is calm and low (Matthew 11:29).
It’s not that bad days and hard seasons won’t come. We all lived long enough to know that trials and hardships are inevitable. Rather, God shows us how we respond to adversity. In our important poems, God’s Word tells us to be grateful in all circumstances. Note that the poem is not said to be grateful for the situation. God does not ask us to be grateful for the horrible things we are walking. No, he says he’s doing these two things while we’re in the storm. Come to him and give thanks. Usually, only God’s unchanging character can be appreciated in a challenging season. But when we do this, something beautiful happens within us!
When we focus on God and give thanks, he fills us with His perfect peace, despite our circumstances failing (Isaiah 26:3). God uses his gratitude to exchange our troubled tunnel vision for his thoughts on his existence, his perspective, and peace. We don’t have a bad life because things are difficult. We must go to God at the burden and exchange our great feelings for His rest and peace. I am grateful for the path to gaining God’s perspective on our problems. May we learn to give thanks and praise God even when things go wrong.
Let’s pray:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for being a safe haven for this storm of life. Lord, I pray that you will show us how to bring us great emotions to you. Welcome us even when you understand how we think about us and believe we will break down in the seams and lie about ourselves, others, you. Jesus, please correct the way we think and share your perspective with us. Help us to thank your unchanging, immovable love in a constantly changing situation.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©gettyimages/ridofranz
Ashley Moore is a writer and host of the Be Two™ podcast. She is known for her relevance and for her passionate writing and speaking about mental, emotional and relational health from her biblical worldview. She writes for Kingdom Edge Magazine, Guide Post, Crosswalk, Secret Place, Envan, Bubblebrook and more. If Ashley doesn’t write, you can find her alongside her husband, three children and two floppy eared golden on farmlands in South Georgia. The best way to connect with Ashley is to get free prayers and Bible studies and join her newsletter at free.ashleynicolemoore.com.
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