God is gracious to reveal part of His will for us in 1 Thess. 5:16–18. These verses are well-known and wonderful to recite. Yet, they are not always so easy to do. In fact, the more we look at them, they are difficult. How in the world can I possibly rejoice, pray, and be thankful everywhere I go?

A key to living out the will of God is switching the terms “will” and “God”. When will is put forth as an action item for us without a proper grounding in the God who is behind that will, then, in the writer’s opinion, the actions can be more challenging. It is the same idea found in indicatives and imperatives. God’s commands (imperatives) are grounded in His actions (indicatives). Since this indicative is true, then this imperative follows. Thus, for each of these three, I propose we look first at the God who is behind each command.

Rejoice Always - Promises of God

How can I rejoice always? By remembering and recalling the promises of God. Since God has finished our sin problem on the cross, we can now rejoice. Since Jesus will come back to rescue me from this fallen world, we can joyfully respond. Since God promises His faithful covenant love to me in Christ always, I can rejoice.

God’s promises are gifts that clear up our past, ground us in the present, and endure us through the future. And for that we may rejoice always knowing the most important things in life are secured because of His gracious work.

Pray Without Ceasing - Presence of God

Prayer can be difficult, but it becomes easier when we recognize that God is present with us wherever we go. It is much easier to talk to someone if they are there rather than if they are not. And since God’s presence is inescapable, prayer feels inescapably more tangible.

God’s presence reminds us and directs us to pray to Him in every situation. His presence reminds us that we need Him and that He is not far away.

Give Thanks in all Circumstances - Providence of God

Complaining can be more natural to us than thankfulness. Why is that? Well for starters there is always something wrong or that can go wrong. Thus, seeing broken things everywhere makes complaining easier to engage. But what if you saw the providence of God in all things, including the broken and wrong things. Things become different.

God’s providential hand over every situation is a cause for thankfulness. He is there, sustaining, working, providing, directing, and redirecting through every mess and every circumstance—just ask Joseph (Gen. 37–45:7). Thankfulness will come more naturally when we take our eyes off what is broken and see the God who directs, governs, and sustains behind it all.

We all long to do the will of God. Switch these two terms and see afresh. See the God of the will first and His will, I think, will take on inspired meaning for you. Lord help us to see you and thus…

¹⁶Rejoice always,
¹⁷pray without ceasing,
¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thess. 5:16–18