1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 — Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I hope you don’t think I’m cheating, but most of the words in today’s devotion come straight from scripture. People sometimes say that the Christian life is difficult. Indeed Pope Francis [yes, I know it’s dangerously open-minded of me to quote a Pope 😉 ] said recently that faithful Christians will always face difficulties, “When a Christian has no difficulties in life – when everything is fine, everything is beautiful – something is wrong.” There’s some Biblical support for what he says. James, for instance, says “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:2-3) and Peter says a similar thing “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
So how do you deal with these inevitable difficulties? It’s not so very hard – in principle at least! Look at these verses from Thessalonians — Pretty straight-forward don’t you think?
What should we do? Always rejoice. Don’t stop praying. Be grateful for everything (not just the good stuff!).
Why is that the plan? Because God wants you to. “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Yes, but how? By faith, and by prayer … “Thy will be done” — and God’s will is that you be joyful, that you pray, and that you give thanks in everything. Actually, gratitude is the “secret sauce”. Alexander MacLaren describes its effect wonderfully:

And if a man in communion with God looks at the events of his life as he might put on a pair of coloured glasses to look at a landscape, it will be tinted with a glory and a glow as he looks.

Paul was really good at dealing with life’s difficulties. He wrote to the Philippians:

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

So there it is — a few simple rules, and you can conquer all of life’s difficulties. Just one thing though … If I’m so smart, how come I sometimes let myself get beaten down? I guess I still have some learning to do …