1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This passage is what I like to call the Big Three. Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.
It’s the Big Three because they are all God’s will for your life.
Have you ever wondered what God’s will is for your life? Would you have thought of these three spiritual truths? Perhaps not because we often interpret God’s will through the lens of the world and what God will accomplish through us. But God’s will is more about the heart of the person rather than the deeds of their hands.
When discerning God’s will, most people respond with, “What I really want to know about God’s will is what I am meant to do”. But still, here they are, this is what God wants you to do - Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.
The world’s system of success is built on two Pillars – self-effort and hard work. It says the harder you work the more you will achieve. This system places a very heavy “yoke” or burden on the shoulders of people which is draining and exhausting.
But understand this is not God’s system of success.
Jesus says, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).
God’s will is not a heavy burden. It is light, it is gentle and it will bring rest into your souls as it brings success, favor, and prosperity. Paul said the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Understand the Heavenly Father loves you and His will is for you to prosper and be successful, but He doesn’t want His children to walk down the heavy, stressful path of the world to obtain it.
Rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving are the fruit of God’s will. There is nothing heavy, or stressful about these – they are effortless.
A simple litmus test to whether you are in the will of God is this – is there an “effortlessness” to what you are doing? I understand there is a learning curve to everything. Even the gifts God deposits within us require development and training. But if what you are doing is like a long hard slog and it feels like you are pushing things uphill and there is little fruit to show for it – stop it because it’s probably not God’s will.
There were things I could do naturally and effortlessly like running, football or playing the drums. But I could not bounce a basketball to save my life or learn the guitar. At university, I started off with a major in IT but it didn’t take too long for me to change to Finance and Accounting. I just didn’t enjoy coding or programming but I was a natural with numbers!
And whatever God is calling you to do, He will grace you with His abilities. Receive Jesus' light, easy, yoke and His prosperity and favor will bring you success!