“And to you who are troubled rest with us…” (2 Thessalonians 1:7).

I like that. Sometime I shall receive the recompense of a righteous God (v 6) — rest!

Then I get to the rest of the verse, and I say, “Please! Not yet! Some people I love aren’t ready yet.”

“…when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (7,8).

So I admit it — I want this grand event to wait.

Question is: What will I do with the “extra” time while God in His grace and patience waits?

That is to say, The Will of God, Post 2.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

No matter the circumstance in which I find myself, being God-conscious will enable me to see that for which I can give thanks.

I notice again that this verse does not call on me to feel thankful.

Even though I may not feel thankful and even though I might actually feel ungrateful, I must give thanks.

That’s God’s will. And I’m committed to follow Him and do His will.

That is how God wants me to choose to respond in every circumstance.

But I don’t.

But I’ll keep working at it.

Maybe that’s why I’m soothed by the last verse of this chapter:

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” (28).