Have you ever wanted to know God’s will beyond any shadow of a doubt? I mean no wondering, no second guessing, no trying to figure things out? Well, keep reading…but let me start with a few more questions…

Would you describe yourself as “grateful?” Are you thankful for what you have? Or do you feel entitled to not only what you have, but what you don’t have?

Until recently, I would have told you I’m grateful and that I do not have an entitlement mentality. In fact, the way so many people expect the government to provide for them really, really bothers me.

But I’m afraid I’m not quite as grateful as I thought. And while I don’t expect the government to give me things, I do expect God to.

Now I realize God makes wonderful promises regarding our provision. Matthew 6:31-34 says:

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We were not made to run after the things we need. Jesus said that’s what those who don’t even know God do. Instead, we were made to run after God. To seek Him. To desire Him.

But have you noticed that God’s timing and His ways aren’t usually like ours? I expect things to happen right away. Seek first His kingdom? Check! Now where’s my stuff, God?

It doesn’t work that way, does it?

There’s almost always a delay. There’s a season of waiting before we see God work. And in the waiting, we must trust, which God enjoys. Hebrews 11:6 says:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

That’s one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Faith pleases God. In other words, He likes to be trusted. I believe He gets pleasure when I choose to not panic, but instead believe that He will come through for me.

So let’s get back to the issue of gratitude.

When we experience an unmet need or desire, it’s very easy to feel discontent. And without even realizing it, we can become ungrateful. And if you’re like me, it’s also easy to become resentful.

Rather than trusting that God is good and faithful and rather than seeing my current circumstances as an opportunity to know Him better and be conformed to His likeness, I become angry or discouraged. I become tempted to give up. I begin to doubt God is really all that good. I can feel like He’s treating me unfairly.

Of course, when my kids were younger, I never let them get away with saying things like, “That’s not fair!” Why? Because life isn’t fair, so there’s no sense in whining or complaining about it. And when it comes to God, you and I really don’t want Him to be fair. Fair would be we all get to pay for our own sins. Unfair is Jesus dying in my place. Let’s be glad God isn’t fair.

So here’s where the rubber meets the road for me. Am I willing to be grateful for whatever circumstances I’m facing? And are you?

Whether we’re dealing with a health issue, a broken relationship, problems at work or a financial crisis…we have a choice to make. We can thank God for whatever it is we’re going through or we can complain and whine and grumble about it. Like me, the Israelites were grumblers and it never turned out well for them. You can read about one of those times HERE. So why in the world would I think my grumbling and complaining about my hardships would turn out any better?

Think about this way…if God wanted to change our current circumstances, He could. He could do it in an instant if He wanted to. But if He hasn’t done that, then just maybe He’s up to something much greater. Something that takes more time. And something that takes our cooperation rather than our complaining.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

So there it is. As clear as it can be.

God’s will for us is to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in ALL circumstances. Even the ones we don’t like.

Maybe once we start doing that, we’ll start to see things change in the direction we’ve been hoping for.

If you want to grow in your faith and believe God, not your circumstances, then check out my 40-day devotional by CLICKING HERE.