Give Thanks in All Circumstances

In the last chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul ends his letter with a machine gun style rattling off of instructions. Without elaborating with explanation, he simply states some things to do. Included in this succinct list are the following verses:

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray continually,

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)

Part of this is easy to do. Part seems almost impossible. The easy part is to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. The hard part is to do this always, continually, and in all circumstances. It is easy to rejoice, until something does not go the way I want it to go. I do not mind praying, but can I pray continually? Saying “thanks” is fine, but what if I do not like the circumstances…do I still give thanks?

The ongoing nature of these admonitions teaches us much about rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks.

In order to rejoice always, joy must be based on something besides the happy times of life. Can I rejoice in the maternity ward and the funeral home? Is it possible to find joy on payday and in the unemployment line? Should I really expect to call it joy on closing day for the new house and later when we are picking up the pieces from a tornado or fire? Rejoice always?

This is only possible if joy comes from something besides the “everything is going right” mentality. And it does. Joy comes through a relationship with the One who is present through the good and bad circumstances. Rejoice always because the Lord is always present, and He births joy in us, regardless of the circumstances.

This leads to the praying continually. If I have that kind of joy-creating relationship with the Lord, I will want to talk with Him nonstop and hear from Him often. Praying continually does not mean that I have to stop what I’m doing to bow and pray. Instead, it means that I can talk with God while I’m doing all of the things that life throws at me today. As I find joy in my relationship with Jesus, I want to talk with Him continually.

And while I’m talking with the Lord so much, I can take that opportunity to say “thanks.” I am thankful not because everything is going great, it may or may not be. I am thankful because of the joy that I have in my connection to the One who loves me so much.

And, I am thankful because the same Father that made me and Savior who died for me is the same Friend who longs to talk with me, continually.

Thanksgiving is a reminder to say “thanks” to the Lord. Don’t just look around to find reasons to give thanks, look in and look up.

During this season, let’s give thanks in all circumstances. Happy Thanksgiving!