“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV). This is one of our favorite verses we quote during the Thanksgiving Day holiday. But sometimes, we can parrot a verse so much that we fail to appreciate it.
Complying with this verse challenges us in the area of giving thanks to God. That’s because of the phrase “in everything,” which is all inclusive. In other words, no matter where you find yourself in life, God wants you to give thanks.
But sometimes we find ourselves in situations that can make it hard for us to give thanks to God. Of course, we are capable of doing so, but that’s not our natural inclination during unpleasant times in our life.
Let us move beyond the façade. This verse is not merely a call for some external display of thankfulness or devotion to God. He always looks on our heart and never our outer appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). That means giving thanks to God—in everything—must come from our heart.
Three Good Reasons to Give Thanks
Both the Old Testament and the Old Testament are replete with reasons and appeals for us to give thanks. Here are three good reasons:
1. First and foremost, because “this is the will of God” for you. Think about the implications of the words “in everything give thanks.” The clear message in those words is that God has already determined Himself to be thankworthy—in everything. It is on the basis of that fact that Paul was inspired to pen the words that he wrote.
At times, you may feel that God does not deserve your thanksgiving because of the situation He has allowed (not caused) you to be in. But God is saying through His Word that He is worthy of your thanks—in everything.
2. No matter where you find yourself in life, you don’t have to look far to find personal reasons to give thanks to God. Every bad season in your life is seasoned with goodness from the Lord. The problem, however, is that during adversity, our focus tends to be dominated by the same.
3. God’s always got your back. The Bible declares, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NASB).
That means life will never become hopeless for you. A way out of your situation will always exist. But it is only when you truly embrace the amazing faithfulness of God reflected in this verse that you can genuinely give thanks to God—in everything.
The clear message here is that conditional thanksgiving to God is unacceptable. He has deemed Himself to be thankworthy—always. How much does your life reflect this reality?
Copyright © 2024 by Frank King. All rights reserved.