1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I climbed the snowy hill with more curiosity than confidence. Sitting on the slick rubber tube, I shifted slightly to see how it would respond beneath me. The snow crunched under my boots, and the cold nipped at my fingers as I adjusted my grip.
My hair whipped across my face, tangling against the wind. My friends lingered behind, part cheerleaders, part mischief-makers.
Then came the shove that sent me sliding.
For a moment, it felt amazing. The tube glided over the packed snow, carrying me faster and faster. My laugh burst out before I could catch it. The hill seemed bigger than all my problems as if the world transformed just for me. Every worry felt distant like the slope itself had stripped them away.
Then the bump came.
A hidden root flipped the tube, and suddenly I was rolling, arms and legs flailing, snow filling every pocket of my jacket. When I finally stopped, I lay on my back, gasping, and laughing at myself. My friends arrived, faces concerned. I waved them off. I was fine. I was more than fine—I felt alive in a way that smooth rides never achieve.
Later, as I rubbed snow from my coat and shook my boots, I thought about how important it is to feel joy like that. I thought about that verse that says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Those words had always meant something to me, but now they felt alive.
Joy is not the smooth ride. It is what endures the tumbles, what stays when the unexpected spins you around. Gratitude is a choice, and laughter is proof it can stick, even in the mess.
So when the next surprise comes—and it will—don’t let the fall write the story. No, let God do it. Keep riding and keep trusting that the One who steadies you will never let you go.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- When life feels unpredictable or messy, how easy is it for you to hold on to joy? What helps you return to it?
- Which part of this verse is hardest for you right now — rejoicing, praying continually, or giving thanks? Why?
- How have unexpected “tumbles” in your life shaped your faith rather than diminished it?
- What would it look like to choose gratitude even when circumstances aren’t smooth or comfortable?
- How might trusting God with the ride — not just the outcome — change the way you face what’s ahead?