1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
How often are we told to rejoice? Not sometimes, but always. The Scripture doesn’t say, “Rejoice when things are good,” or “Rejoice when life feels easy.” It says, “Rejoice always.” This includes not just the happy moments, but the sorrowful ones as well. Christians are called to rejoice because their joy is not rooted in circumstances, but in the unchanging nature of God. Circumstances may shift, but God remains constant.
I have encountered many deeply spiritual people who struggle with rejoicing, often because they are overwhelmed by life’s burdens. It’s precisely for this reason that the Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Prayer is not just a ritual or a formal action—it’s the constant, ongoing communication with God. While we can’t always bow our heads, close our eyes, and fold our hands, those physical postures are not essential to prayer. What matters is the heart’s posture towards God, maintaining an open conversation with Him throughout the day, no matter what we are doing.
While closet prayer (Matthew 6:6)—shutting out distractions and focusing on God—is highly valued, we are also called to maintain an ongoing fellowship with God, no matter the setting or the situation. The location, posture, time, or even the words we use are not what matters most. What matters is that we live in constant communion with God, continually offering Him our hearts and minds.
Finally, we are called to give thanks in everything. Notice, it doesn’t say we give thanks for everything, but in everything. This distinction is important. We are not grateful for every painful or difficult situation, but we are called to acknowledge that in every situation, God’s sovereign hand is at work. As Charles Spurgeon wisely said, “When joy and prayer are united, their firstborn child is gratitude.” In other words, gratitude is the natural outpouring of a heart that both rejoices in God and continually prays to Him.
The final phrase in this passage is powerful: “This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” After each of these exhortations—rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, we are reminded that these are not just commands, but also empowerments. This is God’s will for us, which means that He not only desires this for our lives, but He also enables us to do it. It is God’s will for us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks, and because it is His will, we can do it, even when it feels challenging. We are empowered to live this way because of the grace of Christ Jesus.
In short, God is not just telling us what to do, He is giving us the strength to do it. So, let us rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything—knowing that in Christ, it is not just possible, but it is His will for us.
In His Service,
Dr. Jeffery Parker
