05/24/2022
Do we only pray, I mean really pray, in times of trouble? In the other times of life, when things are good, and we are happy, or complacent in our lives, what is the nature of our prayers? We pray fervently, and without ceasing when confronted by danger, and reach out to the Lord with all our might in our troubles, but when all is well, or our circumstances are filled with happiness, we find that our prayers become light and airy, and we only pray them as we find a spare moment, or during our appointed times of prayer. Our prayers of thanksgiving seem to be eclipsed by those we pray in the midst of suffering, and anxiousness. Is this how we should pray? Should we only thank him once we get what we want? No, God should be lifted up and glorified in all things, and His joy is meant to be be found in us because of His presence there.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
This is one of my favorite passages of scripture! We often hear one particular verse taught in church, and that is to pray without ceasing, but it is typically taught to be prayed when storm clouds cast their shadows over us. The interesting thing about these verses is that although we are told to give thanks in all circumstances, there is no specific mention of trouble, sorrow, or hardship, here, only rejoicing. This instruction is repeated in scripture for us…
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:4-6 ESV
When I was a boy I went squirrel hunting on my grandfather’s farm. As I walked through the woods I became disoriented and found myself lost. It was evening, and I became frightened that I would be in the forest overnight. It was then that I began to cry, and pray for Jesus to help me. I cried and walked, and although I was using all the orientation skills my father had taught me, I was on the verge of giving up hope. It was just at that moment that I walked out onto a country road and spotted a house… I was saved, and I thanked the Lord. Looking back on that day I realize that had I trusted in God from the moment I realized I was lost, and held onto the joyful realization that He was there with me, my tears would have been unnecessary. I ask myself now… where was my faith, and where was my trust. Didn’t I know that Jesus was walking there with me?
When the storm clouds gather in our lives, and we yield to the temptation to be anything but joyous, we find that our desperate prayers come quickly to our lips, and we humble ourselves immediately before God. We pray long into the night as we shed tears of fear, heartbreak, and desperation. However, we should never neglect to find the joy and thank God while calling out for help in our unsettled times, because He is there with us. Knowing He is there, close at hand, we should be joyous, and thank Him… because this is what trusting Him looks like, and comes when we can hand over every circumstance in our lives to Him… we should trust that He will provide, save, protect, bless, teach, and do everything good thing He has promised.
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV
When we find ourselves lost, or fearful; when we are losing all hope, and we have abandoned our own efforts to turn to God in fervent prayer, is our prayer one of rejoicing, and do we pray it without ceasing? Can we trust enough in the Lord to know that just as certainly as the sun will set, and rise again, so will He see us through our troubles? Don’t we realize that even in our pain and suffering we are meant to glorify Him, and that He is with us, even abiding in us, right now? Are we ready to pray in this way?
“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”
Psalm 104:33-34 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with me always, for your Son Jesus who abides in me, and your Holy Spirit that guides me. Thank you for the joy I find in my heart, a joy that comes because you are there. Help me to resist fear, and desperation, while thanking you joyfully in all circumstances. Hear my songs, and prayers, that are offered up to you in joyous celebration of your deliverance, even as it is being worked. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who’s joy is meant to fill us always. Praised be your name in the happy and the sad times alike. We long to glorify you in all we do Father, and to give you thanks in all things. Merciful are you for your faithfulness, and the love you show us. Help us to feel the joy and peace of Christ within us when the world attempts to numb us to His presence. Wash us in His blood, and remove all sin from us. See only Him in us when you judge us, calling us worthy, and welcoming us to your table forevermore.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 100:1-5 ESV
Rich Forbes