Chad Vandiver authored this issue’s devotional. He serves the Lord as Manager, Recipient Relations at Mission:Dignity.

In times of crisis, we often seek to know God’s plan for our lives. Crisis should lead us to Christ, who gives us his will in his Word. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Paul’s three commands in these verses seem impossible, and they are, without the transformational work of the Gospel in our lives.

When Paul commands us to rejoice always, he is not telling us that we should always be happy. Paul is talking about joy that is deeper than mere happiness. This joy comes from our relationship with Christ, which is unchanged by our circumstances. True relationship with Christ is built on daily conversations with him through prayer. We are easily distracted by our circumstances. We fix our eyes on what we can see, touch, taste, smell and hear rather than on God’s unchanging character. We try to create our own version of joy rather than allowing God to shape us in ways that give us joy no matter what.

Next, Paul instructs us to pray without ceasing. In verse 17, Paul is not saying that we must have 24-hour prayer meetings. He is saying that we should have an ongoing conversation with God. Just like couples who have been married so long they can finish each other’s sentences, you can be so close to God that you know his will for your life. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches us how to have an ongoing conversation with God. He teaches us to begin by praising God, surrendering to God’s will, trusting God with our physical needs, and asking God for forgiveness and protection.

Finally, Paul instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances. In verse 18, he is helping us understand that God’s goal is not for us to be happy but to be holy. When we realize this and apply it in our lives, we become living examples of sanctification to a watching world. We begin to have Gospel conversations that transform the world around us. We discover that it is, in fact, possible to live out Paul’s three commands.

Which of these commands will you seek to obey today?

Stocks end mixed amid valuation concerns

• S&P 500^® gained 0.1%, while the Russell 2000^® fell 1.8%.
• Rotation away from growth stocks was driven by uncertainty around AI spending and elevated valuations.
• Federal Reserve officials signaled reluctance to support a December rate cut, keeping volatility high.

Earnings season beats expectations

• S&P 500^® companies are on track for 13.1% earnings growth, well above the 8% forecast.
• Strong results provide support despite market volatility.

Rate cut odds decline as yields rise

• Futures now price a 44% chance of a December cut, down from 67% last week and 94% a month ago.
• Hawkish Fed commentary pushed Treasury yields higher; 10-year ended at 4.15%, up from 4.09%.

European equities advance despite uneven data

• European equities rose 1.8% as optimism over U.S. government reopening offset AI valuation concerns.
• Eurozone industrial production rose 0.2% in September, missing the 0.9% forecast; recovery remains uneven.

Japan rebounds while China slows

• Japanese equities gained 1.9% as U.S. government reopening boosted sentiment.
• China’s fixed-asset investment fell 1.7% YTD; October industrial output grew 4.9% year-over-year, retail sales up just 2.9%, weakest in over a year.

Shutdown ends, uncertainty lingers

• 43-day U.S. government shutdown ended midweek; delayed economic reports remain unscheduled.
• September jobs report set for November 20; other releases pending.

Labor market shows weakness

• ADP estimates the private sector shed 11,250 jobs per week in the four weeks through October 25.

Small business optimism declines

• NFIB index fell for the second month, lowest since April.
• High costs, elevated rates, and stagnant demand weigh on expectations; most businesses are not raising prices.