“Rejoice… pray… give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:16-18, NKJV)
Paul winds down his epistle to the Thessalonians with a series of imperatives. Beginning with verse 11 he issues commands such as comfort, edify, warn, uphold, pursue. These imperatives extend through verse 21, right up to his closing benediction.
But they are not merely commands. They are pastoral admonitions from our Lord through His apostle to His people according to their need. When we find ourselves reeling from grief, confusion, or despair we are not to allow ourselves to be tossed to and fro by winds of doubt. Rather, we are to fortify our faith with the word of God and we are to shore up the faith of others in their struggles with that same word.
One aspect of our fortification has to do with perspective. Faith is conviction of things not seen. Not seen does not mean not real, as some would categorize faith. Unseen means realities not perceived through physical eyes but through the eyes of faith, that ability to see that is a hallmark of new life in Christ. We now have eyes to see and ears to hear.
The apostle groups three imperatives together that provide us trifocals for the acuity of our perspective of faith. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16–18).
We see this same grouping in Philippians 4:4-6 where Paul addresses anxiety. They are lenses to be donned in whatever situation of distress we might find ourselves.
The upper lens of our trifocals has to do with reminding ourselves of God’s presence and purpose in whatever we are facing. Paul expresses it in terms of rejoicing. James puts it, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2).
We don’t typically associate hardship with joy. It is only when we see the hand of God behind the hardship and with us in it, that we count it all joy. Joy is not something merely to be experienced; it is to be enacted, brought to bear. And not by way of putting on a mask that denies the difficulty, but delighting in the hand of our God.
When Paul calls the Philippians to rejoice always, he adds: “The Lord is near” (Phil. 4:5). Sometimes we can focus so much on the trial that we lose sight of the Lord of the trial.
The middle lens has us pray without ceasing. Knowing that our God reigns will prompt prayer as we commune with Him, cling to Him, and cast our cares upon Him. The focal point here is connection we have with the living God who is with us and for us and who is responsive to our needs. Through Jesus we have access to the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in time of need.
Prayer draws us near to God in delight, trust, and dependence. But Paul highlights one type of prayer that serves as the lower lens to our perspective. Knowing that God rules and that we can lean upon Him, the upshot is a renewed perspective of faith that is not governed by trepidation but by thanksgiving.
Typically, the lowest lenses of trifocals are for reading. That perceptiveness of faith is exactly what we want as we read and react to our circumstances. Giving thanks expresses confidence amidst confusion, delight amidst distress, and peace amidst tumult. Thanksgiving derails the plunging path of despair and sets us on the rock of Him who is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
When we meet trials of various kinds, we want to reach for these trifocals of faith. We want to lift our eyes to Him who lives and reigns, to reach out to Him who has promised His presence with us, and to respond counterintuitively with thanksgiving, believing that He does all things well. “For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).
How can the trifocals for faith transform any circumstances?
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
