God’s Will for You: Stay Joyful, Keep Praying, and Always Be Thankful
Learning to walk in joy, prayer, and gratitude—every single day.
As with many things in life, you only discover the actual value of it when you’ve done it for a while. You just have to look at your own life. As a child, when learning to walk. At first it’s taking one step and then falling down. Later on, it is taking more steps with less falling down. The same with learning to drive or taking on a sport. You have to start from scratch, but after a while you start to get it right. Sure, now and then you will make a mistake again, but it is much less than when you started out.
When I first started writing, I never imagined how much it would teach me in return. The more I read and study the Word, the clearer it becomes. I discovered that God’s will is not hidden or complicated. It’s found in the simple, daily choices we make to live close to Him. And it’s clearly available in Scripture.
Such a verse is found in 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.” It gives us three clear instructions.
1. Choose Joy—Even When It’s Hard
Joy isn’t just an emotion but a decision we make each day. Our lives will always have ups and downs, but when we choose to rejoice, even in small things, we open the door for God’s peace to settle in our hearts. It changes our perspective and helps us face trials with hope instead of fear. It is not that we ignore pain but rather that we trust that God is still at work, even in the middle of it.
2. Stay Connected Through Prayer
Prayer is a lifestyle, not something you do once in a while or when you are in a fix. It’s our direct line to God. Above all, there is no perfect time or finding the right words. The wonderful thing is, we can pray while walking, driving, cooking, or sitting quietly. To stay connected, we must be in a constant conversation with God.
Prayer can be seen as our anchor in life. It realigns our thoughts when life gets messy and reminds us we are never alone. Even a whisper, “Help me, Lord,” is heard in heaven. And over time, as we pray more, we will begin to feel His presence more clearly.
3. Be Thankful—In Every Situation
For me, this is the hardest part. It is easy to give thanks when everything is going right. But thanking God when you’re uncertain, hurt, or tired takes faith.
But gratitude lets us shift our focus. Instead of being obsessed over what’s missing, we begin to see what’s already there. This makes us humble and helps us to see how God is working in the background.
On a practical note, try to make a list of the things you're grateful for, and as you go along, try adding to the list. You'll be amazed at how your heart starts to change.
Write down what brings you joy. Take five minutes for uninterrupted prayer. List one thing you’re grateful for—even if it’s just the air in your lungs. Do this daily, and you’ll soon notice how it transforms your walk with God.
When we practice these three things, our hearts become receptive to God. We will begin to walk in His will, make clear decisions, and live in His peace. And even when we don’t have all the answers, we trust the One who does.
God’s will is not far off or out of reach. It’s in your next moment of joy. Your next whispered prayer. Your next quiet thank you.