ON THE BROKEN ROAD
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Six months after retiring from the Marine Corps, I thought I had life figured out. I had a steady job, a new home, and my wife by my side. Everything felt secure—until it wasn’t. I was sitting in a quiet office when the HR representative gently informed me that my position at the hospital was being eliminated. The pandemic had shifted priorities, and a Project Manager was no longer needed. Even though I’d seen the signs, the news still hit hard. I walked out with my heart pounding, unsure how to tell my wife that our financial future had just been thrown from smooth sailing to a broken road.
When I got home and shared the news, I expected panic or tears. Instead, my wife looked me in the eye and said, We need to pray. I hesitated. In that moment, prayer felt impractical. I thought we needed a budget plan, not a spiritual one. But she grabbed my hand and reminded me of Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians: Pray without ceasing… give thanks in all circumstances. So, we prayed. Not just once, but daily. Prayers didn’t erase the fear overnight, and there were still moments of anxiety. I ended up working at Home Depot, driving forklifts—a far cry from my previous role. But through that unexpected job, God opened a door to a new position, one even better than the one I lost.
That verse came alive for me. Rejoicing and giving thanks didn’t mean pretending everything was fine—it meant trusting that God was still working, even in the unknown. Prayer became our anchor, and gratitude became our lens.
APPLICATION: Think about an area of your life where uncertainty is creeping in. Instead of trying to control the outcome, take time today to pray about it. Let go of the need to have all the answers and trust God to lead you through.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for being present even when life feels unstable. Help me to lean into prayer instead of panic, and to trust that Your peace will guard my heart and mind. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?