Here is a challenge for all of us, ' In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you' (1 Thessalonians 5 v18 ) Now this is what it doesn't say,' give thanks for every thing'.`` Paul and Silas experienced being severely flogged,and then thrown into prison,Acts 16 v 23,I am sure that they didn't give thanks for what was done to them.If you have suffered sexual violence, you wouldn't thank God for that.We cant give thank for evil things,and evil things do happen to Christians,awful things.It is John Stott who writes ,' We cannot of course thank God' for all circumstances',including those which are evil and displeasing to Him; but we can and should thank God in all circumstances or ' whatever happens ' This giving thanks in every circumstances is not a trivial thing, it may even appear an impossible thing,but in doing so we are fulfilling God's will for our lives.God knows how hard it is for us to do this,so for all his children he has made available his all sufficient and wonderful grace. Hubert Mitchell wrote a lovely hymn here are some of the words from it.
' He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase;
To added affliction He added His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit, His grace has medsure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again'.
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