Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Some, such as the Apostle Paul, were called “by the will of God” (II Corinthians 1:1) to preach the Gospel, to suffer, and even to be martyred for the Kingdom’s sake. Even Jesus submitted His will to the will of the Father, that God’s will would be done. Yet, it is not always easy to know what is the “will of God.” 

To know consistently God’s will, one must renew his mind to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). Prayer in submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit guides us “into all truth” (John 16:13) and gives us the “peace of God” that rules, or is the umpire, in making decisions (Colossians 3:15). 

But there is one thing that is always the will of God. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18). It is not always easy to give thanks. However, not to be grateful is the first step
toward depravity. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21; see also verses 23–28). 

Regardless of the circumstances, as believers in Jesus, there is a vital thing for which we can always be grateful—the promises of the New Covenant. In the New Covenant we have three things not available in the Old Covenant. As prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31–34 (and affirmed as being fulfilled in Hebrews 8:8–12), the New Covenant includes these truths: 

1. God will write His Law in our minds and on our hearts (verse 33).
2. We, from the least to the greatest, can know God personally (verse 34).
3. God will forgive our iniquities, and He will remember our sins no more
   (verse 34).   

Read these passages and think on the New Covenant gifts in order to maintain an eternal perspective in the midst of trials. By doing so, we can “rejoice evermore” (I Thessalonians 5:16) in the “great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3) Jesus has provided to us who believe. And remember the admonition in I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”