In EVERYTHING Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In one of my favorite books, The Hiding Place, two sisters are sent to a concentration camp for hiding and helping Jews. Upon arriving in Barracks #28 at Ravensbruck they found that it was filthy, rancid, soiled, gloomy, crowded, and infested with fleas. Corrie and Betsie remembered this scripture:

"That's it, Corrie! That's His answer. '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 barracks!"

I stared at her, then around me at the dark, foul-aired room.

"Such as?" I said

"Such as being assigned here together."

I bet my lip. "Oh yes, Lord Jesus!"

"Such as what you're holding in your hands."

I looked down at the Bible. "Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! Thank You for all the women, here in this room, who will meet You in these pages."

"Yes," said Betsie. "Thank You for the very crowding here. Since we're packed so close, that many more will hear!" She looked at me expectantly. "Corrie!" she prodded.

"Oh, all right. Thank You for the jammed, crammed, stuffed, packed, suffocating crowds."

"Thank You," Betsie went on serenely, "for the fleas and for___"

The fleas! This was too much. "Betsie, there's 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.

The fleas were indeed a gift. It was because of the fleas the guards never came inside the infested barracks. These two sisters found a rainbow within a terrible storm by being grateful for everything. 

I know that I need to be more grateful...not only for my blessings, but also for my trials!