Thanking God In All Circumstances

Yesterday I was moving a lot of stuff into our new apartment. Trip after trip, from the car to the apartment and back again. I noticed that the rain had stopped, so I prayed, "Thank you, Father, for this break in the weather."

I carried that load into the apartment, and then, when I came back outside, it was raining again.

Me: "Aw, God, what's up with this? I just said thank you for the good weather, and now it's raining again."
God: "In everything give thanks."
Me: "What?"
God: "You know I'm not in the habit of repeating myself when I speak to you."

[Sidenote: that's true. Many years ago, God worked with me on what might be called, "first command obedience." You see, in the Navy, I learned that obedience needs to be instant. But, with God, my obedience was... well, let's call it reluctant. His lesson to me then was that I considered Navy Lieutenants to outrank God, because I would obey Lieutenants immediately, but I would stall on doing what God told me to do. Well, that had to change. God should only have to speak to me once.]

Me: <sigh> "Okay, you're right, I heard you, and I know that's 1st Thessalonians 5:18. And I know I have much to be thankful for right now. We're living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and this rain is what makes it so beautiful. So, in all sincerity, thank you, Father, for this rain."

I got another load from the car and carried it through the rain into the apartment. I put the load down, turned around, and went back outside.

The rain had stopped.