“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

Restless legs. Ever heard of them? The malady comes at you wheb you are just about to fall asleep making your legs twitch and move spontaneously.

I started having these when I was about 35. In the beginning I would get to sleep for about an hour and then would be awakened by the twitching. Then I’d be up for the rest of the night. That would happen for 4 or 5 nights in a row, then the 6th night I’d be so exhausted that I could sleep through the night. But the next night it would start all over.

Was that something I should thank God for? The verses above say to do so “in ALL circumstances,” for “this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” I didn’t want to but learned to give thanks for my restless legs.

In one way this malady was a blessing because as a church planter I had the equivalent of three full time jobs and was able to fulfill all my roles because I slept very little!

But it was very demanding. I learned that exercise helped and when the twitches came, would do hundreds of deep knee bends or other exercises. That helped but did not eliminate this. Later I learned that taking magnesium was helpful, too, but no cure.

Finally in my 60s,  a doctor prescribed Mirapex, a Parkinson’s medicine to prevent tremors,  and this worked wonderfully—if I remembered to take it in time, for it took 2 hours to be effective. If I forget to take it by about 7 pm, as I did tonight, then I have to get up, do many reps on my exercise machine, and then work some, as I am doing right now.

So, the answer is: “yes, it is right to give thanks for my restless legs.” God has many uses for this in my life: keeping me disciplined, and obedient, giving me more time to work, helping me to be humble.

Yes, giving thanks in all things is good, wonderful, encourages us and honors God.

Picture: After 5 nights of restless legs!