When the going gets tough, the tough...

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is gods will for you in Jesus Christ

Pauls instructions seem so simple, so easy to understand yet often so difficult to follow. The important thing to remember is that when times get tough we mustn’t get going. Running from god never solved anything (reread Jonah if you don’t believe me). What we really need is prayer. We need to ask god to be with us in our difficulties and learn to thank god through our difficult times. So many older Christians have told me that it is in those difficult times that we draw nearer to God and learn the secret of trusting in him. We must also accept that although we may not understand that this is Gods plan for us and his plan is for us to prosper and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29). This in itself should be worthy of our praise!
But its not easy to play the Pollyanna game and see the best in every situation. How easy do you find it to say thank you to God for what he has done for you. My challenge to you is to spend a 10 mins each day for a week to write down 10 things to be thankful of for that day. It doesn’t matter how big or small the things are that your thankful for, the important thing is to train ourselves to thank God whether we have had a ‘nice’ day or not. Every day is Gods teaching day, but can you make it a God thanking day?