This may not sound very logical or easy to do considering that we are daily faced with challenges, disappointments and a host of things that do not motivate us to remain joyful not to mention giving thanks and praising God.

However, I discovered that we all as human beings walk between our current reality (The challenges we are currently facing - where we are now) and our ideal reality or expected dreams and visions; this situation is a dynamic continuum.

In essence, we are always going through situations like this, where our current reality is not our expected desire but if we are honest with ourselves, we would come to the conclusion that there have been countless occasions when these seemingly undesirable situations transformed to become the realities we all hoped and prayed for.

It is for this reason that Apostle Paul as led by the Holy Spirit requests us in 1 Thessalonians: 5:16-18 to: “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”.

God’s will is not for us to be depressed, upset or in a perpetual state of despondence. He has good plans for us (Jeremiah. 29:14) He is not a wicked God (Psalm.5:4). As a matter of FACT, Jesus came that we might have life in abundance John 10:10.

What God expects us to do is maintain our joy in Him (Nehemiah 8:10) which is a source of strength that we can draw on during the intervening period. It is this joy / strength that will keep us focused on Him and eventually lead us to the solution (Isaiah 12:3). Remember, Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the Truth and the life” (John 14:6).

I know that some situations last longer than others and there may be people reading this who feel they have waited for a lifetime. Apostle Paul in his writing to the Thessalonians did not put a time limit to our rejoicing, prayer and giving of thanks. It should be a continuous thing.

The reason I believe is as follows:

1. Salvation is something to always be joyful for; therefore rejoice evermore.

2. Prayer is always available as a tool to change our current situation to desired reality, so we pray without ceasing.

3. Thanksgiving is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus, that is, it is only through thanksgiving that we can access God through Jesus, even in the place of prayer. (Psalm 65:1-2, 100:1-4).

The combination of these three activities certainly is praise and it guarantees God’s presence (Psalm 22:3) and the Bible teaches us that in His presence is fullness of joy as well as pleasures evermore at his right hand (Psalm 16:11).

For those of us who have been waiting a long time for one thing or another, the following scriptures assure me that God is aware and will do something about the situation:

2 Peter 3:8: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day”.

Psalm 30:5: “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning”

John 5:6,9a: “When Jesus saw him lie and knew he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, will thou be made whole? And immediately the man was made whole”.

Let us remember that our ultimate destination, heaven, is a place of praise and intense joy without an iota of sorrow.

How about we get some practice now for what we are going to be doing forever?

Kayode T.Ojo is an ordained Minister in The Redeemed Christian Church of God and finance professional. He is married to Ayotunde. They have a son called Daniel and currently reside in Lagos, Nigeria.