Give Thanks in Every Circumstance

And so the holidays begin.

The holidays can bring about a lot of mixed emotions. They can be filled with happiness and sadness. Even at the same exact time.

I sat down to write a blog post on being thankful, of which this absolutely is. But it’s more than just being thankful in the good times, in times of celebration... It is about being thankful in EVERY circumstance. Good and bad.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Give thanks in EV-ER-Y circumstance.

It’s so easy to give thanks when things are going our way. When things feel good. When we get that big promotion, when things feel like they’re on our side. But what about when they aren’t? What about those moments of pain, hurt, and struggle? Then what?

Give thanks.

The two verses prior give even more instruction: v. 16 “Rejoice always,” and v. 17 “pray continually.”

These preceding verses are not suggestions but commands. Joy, prayer, and thanksgiving are not based on our circumstances or our feelings. These three commands go against our human nature when life struggles come our way. But rather, when we obey these three things on a daily basis, we begin to see our circumstances in a different light and have a new perspective. We begin to see hope.

Giving thanks in every circumstance does not mean we are walking around with a fake smile on our faces, that we don’t encounter struggles and hurts. It doesn’t mean that when there are tough and difficult seasons that our pillows are not wet from tears. But what it DOES mean is our hope, our strength, our eyes are not on ourselves, but on the TRUTH. It means when the whispered lies begin to try and get our eyes off of the One who will carry us through, we go back to the words of God that will silence the lies. It means we give thanks for what GOD is going to do in our moments of distress and use our circumstances for HIS glory.

The holidays can be hard. But in every circumstance, we give thanks. We give thanks to God, rejoicing always, and submitting all things to Him in prayer.

Colossians 3:15:  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Phillippians 4:6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD.Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 95:2-3 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”