“Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15 TLB).
The realities of life in a fallen world can often make it difficult for us to enjoy the good things God has given us. We fix one problem only to be presented with another. We devise “work arounds” to do what needs to be done in order to complete a task. We finish unraveling one of life’s complications and immediately start upon the next. As Jesus Himself once observed, “Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NIV).
For some, the challenges, difficulties, and complexities of daily life can dampen their appreciation for the blessings they have received. Its easy to get so caught up in anticipating the problems of tomorrow that we miss out on the good things that God has given us today. It’s also possible to become so accustomed to the blessings we already enjoy that we begin to take them for granted.
Because of this, we would do well to observe the reminder given to us at the end of Colossians 3:15: “…never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you” (Phillips). The Biblical book of Philippians provides us with a strategy that can help us maintain an attitude of thankfulness…
“…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy— meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
While we can’t always explain the painful things we encounter in life, we can rest in the assurance God has a definite purpose behind them. As we’re reminded in the New Testament book of Romans: “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Even when the circumstances of our lives appear otherwise, God is able to make all things work together for our ultimate benefit. Therefore, we should prayerfully adjust our focus to concentrate on the priorities that Jesus presented to us in Matthew 6:31-33…
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (NLT).