breaking the hush

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I read a book a few weeks ago called “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom-a great Christian classic! The book is a biography of Corrie and her family who hide Jews in Holland during the Holocaust in 1944. Corrie and her family were eventually caught a placed in concentration camps. When Corrie and her sister Betsie were transferred to an over-crowded barrack, Corrie and her sister immediately began to complain but Betsie reminded her of the formerly mentioned scripture.

“That’s it Corrie…give thanks in all circumstances. That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barrack.’

I stared at her, then around me at the dark, foul-aired room. ‘Such as?’ I said.

‘Such as being assigned here together.’

I bit my lip, ‘Oh, yes Lord.’

‘Thank you for the very crowding here. Since we are packed so close, than many more will hear the gospel.

She looked at me expectantly, ‘Corrie,’ she prodded.

‘Oh all right. Thank you for the jammed, crowded, stuffed, packed, suffocating crowds.’

‘Thank you, ‘Betsie went on serenely, ‘for the fleas and for the----’

The fleas! This was too much. ‘Betsie, no way, even God can make me grateful for a flea.’

‘Give thanks in ALL circumstances,’ she quoted. ‘It doesn’t say in pleasant circumstances.  Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.’

And so we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.

Did Paul really know what he was asking of the Thessalonians, and inadvertently us, in that letter? The other day my sisters drove a few hours to come visit and after four hours of waiting were turned away with no visit. Honestly, I was sad. I told a friend of mine and what did he tell me? “In all things give thanks, Shawn.” Wow! That blind-sided me but immediately pricked my heart and I began to thank God!

In reading Exodus, I get do mad at the Israelites! I mark my Bible up-writing words like-“ungrateful,” “useless,” and phrases like “If I were God they would be out of there” or “Wow! How patient You were and slow to anger.” Then with prayers like, “God, let me not forget your blessings of past.” “Help me always to trust You and keep me from grumbling.” It’s so easy for us to look at the Israelites in disdain but how many times do we do the same thing? How many times have we seen the hand of God move in and around us-even standing in awe of His goodness just to later begin to complain at our circumstances, even after seeing and knowing His sovereignty?!

I do believe Paul knew exactly what he was asking! A man who was persecuted, imprisoned, and tortured for his faith, and yet still praised God.

Sometimes, we won’t see the purpose of our situation that brings us to complain until hindsight, if God allows it to be revealed at all. But, Paul doesn’t care if we understand why, he wants us to understand God’s sovereignty and in that, trust Him and give thanks knowing this-which I can do.

In the Hiding Place, a few chapters later, Corrie Ten Boom found out that they had so much freedom to spread the Gospel in those barracks and the reason was because no guard would step foot in the door. Why? For no other reason than the large infestation of FLEAS!! So, in our lives, when situations come, no matter how big, small, good, or bad remember to be joyful, pray always, and give thanks – even for the fleas!

**To the young lady who will mend hearts with her compassion, and move God’s hand with her tears, I love you and miss you! Happy 10th Birthday, Zoe Grace Mackenzie Deats**