Even In This Circumstance

When we face trials, it is hard to see what there is to be thankful for. Yet throughout Scripture, there is this reminder to give thanks: Psalm 9:1, Ephesians 4:20, and Colossians 2:7.

The Apostle Paul himself was stoned, shipwrecked, persecuted, and even imprisoned. Yet, he calls us to give thanks even in the hardest of circumstances. Not just in some things, but in everything.

I don’t know if you can relate to Paul in that regard, but it has been something I have been continually learning—specifically these past four months. In July I went to the hospital for some issues with my heart. Over the course of next few weeks, I had a heart monitor put on, blood work done, and numerous other tests performed on me. I was diagnosed with a type of supra-ventricular tachycardia. I won’t get into all the details as I am still learning more about it.

On September 4, I went into the hospital for a scheduled minimally invasive heart surgery, but it was not a successful surgery. Hearing that the surgery on my heart was unsuccessful was hard to process. It caused a lot of uncertainty and disappointment. Right away I found it hard to be thankful and give thanks. But as I continued to seek the Lord in this hardship, I was reminded of I Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

There still is so much uncertainty in this situation. There still is a lot of unknowns. Through it all I am trusting God because He is the one who is with me every step of the way.

Even in this circumstance, I can give thanks and rejoice as the joy I have is not found in circumstances, but it is found in Jesus. The thanks I give is to Jesus. I thank God for the peace I have, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. I thank God for the work that He is doing through all of this as I continue to walk in the unknown. God is in control, and I am thankful for that.

Jonny Sollie [FLBC, 2016] currently lives in Moorhead, Minn.

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