Written By: Lana Ringer
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1
Thessalonians 5:18
Life is messy. Situations come at us without warning, threatening to overwhelm us. One morning
recently, I woke up to no running water in my house. It's not the best way to start a day. Because I
have well water and there has been no rain for the past few months, the thought went through
my head that my well had run dry. Placing a call to a well pump service, I waited and prayed.
Not on my knees-praying, but walking and talking to the Lord in my basement. Praying over the
well pump. Desperate prayers. Hoping that my well had not run dry. That it was something
fixable, financially inexpensive. After the initial panic subsided, I sensed the Lord leading me to
pray in a different way. Thanking Him, I began to declare His promises, trusting Him to provide,
no matter what the outcome may be. Praise began to flow from my heart in tune with music now
playing on my IPad. My focus had shifted from the problem to the Provider. My situation at that
moment had not changed, but my attitude had taken a 180. I was “giving thanks IN ALL
circumstances, not FOR the circumstance…”
A scripture that the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance that morning is Isaiah 12:3 “With joy
you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” I began to speak the Word out loud, and as I
did, my joy increased while panic and dread faded away.
The passage above from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 begins with vs 16-17 emphasizing “Rejoice
always, pray continually, give thanks…” and though it is implied that this requirement is on us,
the end result is found in verse 24: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
I have heard it said that when we do our part, God does His. In my life I have witnessed
God’s faithfulness, especially throughout the care of my ailing husband, who is now in
heaven. I determined daily while caring for him, to praise and give thanks to the Lord,
no matter what the challenge, and the Lord gave me strength. When Jehoshaphat was
up against a vast army that could have crushed him and his people, the Lord delivered
them as “…Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor
of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for
his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21
My well pump was fixed and despite the drought, I still have water in my well! Would I have had
water whether I prayed or not? Perhaps. But what I do know is that my heart attitude and joy
were overflowing before the answer came. We can trust that “Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Give thanks. Always.