Why\u2019s that? It comes from a simple truth that I believe in: that everything I have and every difficulty I face is part of God\u2019s plan for me, and while I\u2019ll pray for confidence and courage, I won\u2019t pray for specific outcomes unless it\u2019s absolutely clear in my head what God\u2019s will is.<\/p>\n
My belief stems from a promise God made, and it\u2019s in the epistle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians who were under persecution for their beliefs. Worried, Paul said to the Thessalonians:<\/p>\n
\u201cIn all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all<\/em>.\u201d (1 Thess 5:18)<\/p>\n I was first struck by this verse when doing my quiet time while in full-time NS 17 years ago, and it\u2019s remained in my head ever since. This is one of my three \u2018anchor\u2019 verses that I always remember, and it helps simplify the challenges and situations that come on all too often.<\/p>\n There are three key phrases in this verse:<\/p>\n – \u201cIn all<\/span> things\u2026\u201d, which well means in everything<\/em>.<\/p>\n – \u201cGive thanks<\/span>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n – \u201cThe will of God<\/span>\u2026\u201d, it\u2019s God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n In everything that happens, give thanks because this is part of God\u2019s plan for you.<\/em> Paul didn\u2019t tell the Thessalonian converts to give thanks only when the going is good, and not to give thanks when their goats were lost somewhere, or when they were faced with some huge calamity on their door step. Rather, things are happening because it\u2019s part of God\u2019s plan, and there will be some lesson, learning value, or opportunity that will come as a result.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1 Thess 5:18 has made it really a lot easier for me to accept these things that happen. Like when I was in a traffic accident when I hit the guy\u2019s Honda<\/a> and the repair job cost us a few thousand. Or 7 years years ago when I found myself \u2018retired\u2019 early from an academic position for being a defiant and recalcitrant toot to management at a school I was lecturing at. Or the incident 11 years ago when I left my small group. Or when we found out 2 months ago that there was a probability that our baby girl was going to have chromosomal disorders. In everything, give thanks!<\/p>\n Oh, this doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t feel miserable when those things happened. But in every<\/em> instance God came through for us and there was an amazing outcome in every incident. I\u2019m a far more careful driver and Ling reminds me not to get distracted on the roads. The incident at work 7 years ago set in motion my plans for the Ph.D. And the incident with my small group all those years ago led me to social and virtual communities which in turn became my doctoral research work and where I met my best bud, that prata-eating Ang mo<\/a>.<\/p>\n And as for little Agnes \/ Tirza \/ Hannah (yet to decide LOL), it wasn\u2019t really much of a decision to make. It took us all of five minutes, in the car driving home even. God had blessed us with a child, and we were grateful. He didn\u2019t say give thanks only if the child had no abnormalities. If our baby was going to be born with Down Syndrome<\/a>, we\u2019ll give thanks, because this was a challenge God was giving us and we were going to do our level best to work it out. He blessed the both of us with great families and friends to support us, and sound minds and bodies to raise our daughter right even in potential difficulties.<\/p>\n OK this doesn\u2019t mean things are all hunky dory and rainbows. And I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll be really and sorely tested if something really big happens. But for the moment, I\u2019m thankful for this simple truth \u2013 it\u2019s really made life that sunnier.:)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We usually close of our bible study with prayer requests. And recently Ann jokingly remarked that I don\u2019t seem to have many requests.:) There\u2019s a long-winded explanation for that. I don\u2019t have many specific requests because putting aside all my<\/p>\n![\"blog-lessons-2\"](\"https:\/\/chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/bloglessons2.jpg\" "\\"blog-lessons-2\\"")
Oh, it\u2019s easy to give thanks when you get that new promotion, the new raise, a big bonus at year end etc. Many of us do. We thank God when those great things happen. But do we thank God when we don\u2019t get the promotion, the raise, or the big bonus? No. Our natural instinct is for us to gripe and complain.<\/p>\n