1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (NRSV)

I attend our Wednesday evening Eucharist whenever I can make it, and it has long been a blessing to me. Last Wednesday, though, looked like an exception. I parked the car on the street as usual and opened the door to get out, when another car came, seemingly from nowhere, about to pass my car. I realized the other's passing just in time to draw myself back into the car and close the door, or the other vehicle would surely have smashed into my car's door, perhaps hitting me as well. A close shave!

After this I opened the door again very cautiously and proceeded into the church. As I walked, I thanked God from my heart for alerting me in time to avoid a serious accident.

As I sat quietly in the pew, the thought occurred to me that we try to thank God for all that He gives us, but do we always thank Him for the things He doesn't give or permit to happen? When thunder and lightning roll through the sky, do we give thanks that it does not strike us? When we travel, do we thank Him for the accidents which don't happen on the road? Perhaps, even, we might complain that a sincere prayer we uttered was not answered, not thinking that maybe He didn't answer because He knew better than we that what we had asked would have weakened our faith, not strengthened it.

Perhaps we should try in the future to thank God in all circumstances, and more so, as we believe that this might just be His will for us in Christ Jesus.

Prayer: We thank You, Father, for all the hurtful things that could have happened to us that You prevented from happening. Thank You for all for which we have asked but didn't receive because You know best what we need. We thank You for showing us Your will for us in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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