Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, emphasis mine).

Really think about that: Rejoice always!  Give thanks in all circumstances!  Even when you lose your job?  Even when your best friend betrays you?  Even when your child dies?  Even when the worst possible thing happens?  Those words: “always” and “all” don’t leave any room for complaining, bitterness, or feeling sorry for yourself.

I learned this first hand yesterday.  I woke up with a migraine attack.  I have been healed of migraines.  Since my healing, I have been able to pray away almost all attacks.  If a migraine goes away in an hour, then it was an attack, and not a true migraine.  Migraines typically last 18 to 20 hours.

Whenever these attacks come, I have typically prayed, and lately I have added thanksgiving to God for the provision for my healing through the blood of Jesus.  But the attack that came yesterday morning was only getting worse with prayer.

So I asked the Lord what to do, and He said, “Thank Me.”  So I began thanking God for the migraine attack.  The strange thing is that as I thanked Him, I began to feel grateful—really, genuinely grateful.  And that lead to extravagant praise.  I was praising God with a grateful heart because He had allowed the migraine attack.  In my heart was born the absolute certainty that if God had allowed this migraine attack, then it must be for my ultimate good.

Almost instantly the migraine left me.  And after about half an hour, I was feeling 100 percent again.

Then I realized that this had been an important lesson to learn, and another step forward in trusting God all the more.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight, (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I trust You, Lord!  The more I trust You, the more You prove Yourself faithful and good!  God is good!