Written by Joanna Dortignac. Art by Lorraine Yang.
Throughout the years God has blessed me in ways that make me want to jump and sing in the overflow of my gratefulness, but other times He throws me a curve-ball in order to teach me a new lesson. One of these lessons has been: How can I glorify God in each situation?
A little while ago I got a late night call from a friend of mine. I answered the phone to hear all about how God worked out the details for my friend and her sister to go to a camp. At first I was confused. What did I have to do with any of this? Then I recognized that my friend was taking the opportunity to glorify God for what He had done. In the same situation I would have simply enjoyed the moment and kept it to myself. My friend however, was taking to the time to point to the Lord. By realizing, recognizing, and praising Him for His goodness, she was magnifying His glory and allowing me to share in her joy.
What my friend did, gave me a new perspective on how I ought to respond in every circumstance. Since then I’ve heard other stories, some happy, some hard, but each one challenging me to keep this question in mind: How can I glorify God in this situation? How can this be used as an opportunity to exalt Christ and direct others towards Him? Whatever comes my way, no matter the results and their effect on me personally, God should be glorified. He shall be acknowledged and praised.
We were meant to give Him glory. In our weakness, He is made strong. It’s not what we have done, but what the Lord has done. So how can we give Him the glory that He deserves?
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Reflection Questions
1. What tends to be your first reaction to good situations in your life? How about bad ones?
2. How can you learn or remind yourself to give thanks in any and every situation?