Thanksgiving and Prayer from Adversity

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Colossians 1:3-4

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints

(CSB)

One of the qualities anyone in ministry must have is a quality of servant leadership.  In Jesus’ denouncement of religious hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-36) Jesus teaches that the greatest are those that serve (Matthew 23:11).  Jesus also denounces narcissism through teaching that those exalting themselves will be humbled.  Narcissistic world leaders should take this to heart because when Jesus returns, He will reign. 

In addition to narcissism because one has position of leadership, many in the culture also have sympathetic narcissism demonstrated by people seeking attention through constant complaining about their condition, seeking sympathy.  Like leaders seeking to make everything about them, sympathetic narcissists also seek to make everything about them due to the struggles they face.  James 1:2-4 teaches that the purpose of struggles in our life is the testing of faith to produce endurance and spiritual maturity.  Those entrapped in sympathetic narcissism do not achieve spiritual maturity and remain spiritually immature with weak faith. 

It is possible that the rich teaching contained in the prison epistles illustrate the spiritual maturation process of the Apostle Paul due to the struggles of being a Roman prisoner.  Perhaps the greatest lesson he learned is the importance of remaining thankful and prayerful when in prison instead of complaining and focusing on the negatives of his circumstances.  To remain thankful and prayerful in adversity we must,

1)      Focus on God (Matthew 6:9-13) – The Lord’s prayer provides a pattern for prayer.  Unlike how many of us pray, it does not immediately begin with a list of requests from God.  Instead, the pattern for prayer begins with one focusing on our Father in Heaven.  Last month I spent a week in Ohio visiting family and to experience winter since I live in Phoenix.  While in Ohio they experienced the lowest temperatures they had experienced in over 100 years.  While it was cold outside, I was inside a 75-degree house during the coldest temperatures and found beauty in looking out the window at the snow.  When we focus on God, we are dwelling in the 75-degree comfort of his presence and can look out at the cold evil world outside and find beauty. 

2)      Focus on the reward (1 Thessalonians 4:17) – I presently have several friends on my prayer list who are struggling with cancer.  Just the mention of the word strikes fear in each of us as it causes us to confront the frailties of our fleshly mortal bodies.  However, the prospect of spending eternity with the Lord who loves us so much he endured a brutal death by crucifixion on a Roman cross should slay the giant of fear, even fear of death from cancer.  While I continue to pray for healing for my friends with cancer, I know that those that know the Lord have a reward of eternity with Jesus as their focus.  Should Jesus choose to take them home to be with them, I know they will be better off then I am and that I will see them again.  For those struggling with cancer who do not know the Lord as savior, my prayer is that they will not only receive healing from cancer but salvation for their souls. 

3)      Focus and pray for others (Colossians 1:9-10) – Focus on others when we are in either physical or emotional pain goes against our human nature or flesh.  However, the Church or body of Christ functions best when each member serves the other members.  While the Apostle Paul focused on the needs of the Churches he had planted while in prison, the church was praying for him and seeing to his needs (Philippians 4:10-13).  This represents the ultimate demonstration of servant leadership, something the body of Christ must practice as the world becomes increasingly at odds with Christians and their values. 

Hatred, divisiveness, and confrontation are rampant in the world.  For the Church to stand out as a beacon of light in this darkness, it must unite and remain prayerful and thankful by focusing on God, our heavenly reward, and the needs of others in the church, including the salvation of those that do not know Christ as savior.  If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your savior, I invite you to pray with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

I encourage you who just prayed to focus on God through prayer, study of the Bible, and regular attendance in Church where you associate with other believers.  When adversity comes, focus on the reward of eternal life Jesus has promised and the promise of His return to rule in righteousness.  Focus on others, especially those you know who do not know Jesus as their Savior so they too can focus on Jesus instead of their life circumstances.