‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:6-7(NLT)
‘Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18(NLT)
James and Jennifer survived the deployment—which wasn’t easy. After all, he was the one at home with their three children, and she was gone for a year. Jennifer couldn’t wait to be a wife to her husband and a Mom to her kids again. But it seemed the kids went to their Dad for everything and James didn’t consult her on anything. She was angry. Her Mom told her to “count her blessings,” but honestly it was hard for her to see anything good in their family dynamics right now. The deployment seemed to have ruined their marriage and their family.
The Apostle Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:16-18 that we are to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Give thanks in all circumstances . . . really?
The truth is that it is through giving thanks that God’s light can shine even into the dark places of our life—including our disappointments, disillusionments, and discouragements. The transformation of a bitter attitude into one of humility, the transformation of a hurting marriage into a joy-filled marriage—it all starts with a grateful heart proclaiming life from salvation freely offered in grace by Jesus Christ.
The grace of gratitude says, “We thank God for bringing us back together, and we thank Him for all the ways He sustained us while apart.”
1. Why are James and Jennifer so discouraged?
2. According to I Thessalonians 5:18, how could grace be demonstrated in their marriage?
3. Do you express gratitude for your family, even when things are not going according to your expectations?
from Reintegration After Deployment