Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
I find the verse that headlines this meditation to be a challenging one. How can we be thankful in all circumstances? How is that possible?! Is the apostle Paul kidding us? He really expected his readers to do that?
I write this during a time that is common to all of us: a time of unexpected loss and grief. A young friend of ours suddenly died. How do we give thanks in that circumstance? Isn’t that a bit much to ask? Did Paul really mean most circumstances, and not all? I’ve also just talked to a close friend who is going through some fairly bizarre family matters. How do you give thanks to God for unnecessary heartache and headache?
First, my mind goes to the author of this Scripture text. After becoming a Jesus’ follower—and giving up his life as a persecutor of Jesus’ followers—Paul had known incredible heartache and hardship. He did time in prison for his public declaration of the Good News of Jesus. He had been beaten for his testimony. He had been stoned, not quite to death, but he must have wished for it! He had been shipwrecked, and was left floating in the open sea. I’m trying to imagine what his prayer was at that time; “Thank you, Lord, for the shipwreck! Thank you that I’m floating around out here—I can’t see land, don’t know if I’ll live through this, will ever see my friends again, or when I’ll eat again! I’m freezing to death in these waves and water! Thank you that I’m going through this!” Something about that doesn’t seem to be the intent of what he is saying.
Before narrowing down a bit more on what he might have intended, I notice the context in which this reminder occurs. It is about middle way in a list of several charges, or admonitions, which include: Encourage the timid. Take care of the weak. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Don’t stifle the Holy Spirit. Stay away from every kind of evil.
So, it seems that these are concrete, practical words for living as a Jesus’ follower. These are attitudes that mark the believer. In light of his track record and resume, I can receive it from Paul! He knew what it meant to give thanks (and be joyful, and one who always prayed, and who was intent on letting the Holy Spirit work). He didn’t live detached, in the proverbial ivory tower, and hand down “ways to live as a Christian—and you’d better do it, or else!” Paul has credibility. Been there, went through that.
I’m struck by the way that this challenge to thankfulness is intentional, deliberate, purposeful. It’s not something we just sort of fall into, or something which comes automatically. We have to intentionally determine to practice thankfulness. That is not easy! Especially as our circumstances change, and we get new opportunities for thankfulness, seemingly every day.
Apart from the action of giving thanks, we need to consider the context in which we give thanks. I think this is actually the most important part of the passage. Notice that Paul doesn’t say give thanks “for all things”, but “in all things.” The preposition makes a difference.
Why should we give thanks in all circumstances? Paul says it’s because that’s what God wants. That’s his will for us who belong to him. That no matter what happens, what the day brings, what takes us by surprise and leaves us with our hearts racing, broken, shattered, or frustrated, we are looking to him. I recall that He is not nervous, out of control, or ever heard to utter the words, “Oops. I didn’t see that coming.” We give him thanks because no matter how bad this might appear, God can intervene and use horrible circumstances for good. We express deliberate thanks to Him that He is in charge, has infinite wisdom, and doesn’t make mistakes. Hard for some to accept, but God knows more about this than I do. Can I rest in that knowledge? I’m not being trite or dismissive of real concerns; I am convinced that God knows what’s happening.
Admittedly, there are many who turn away from God because they can’t reconcile that a supposedly good God would allow such bad to happen. We know that is a real issue, and it’s not going to be explained or solved in the few pages of today’s meditation. However, my first response to this dilemma, stated in the form of a question is: Do we believe in a God who is bigger than our thinking and understanding, and who has a perspective that perhaps we don’t share?
I’m sure some will scoff at and dismiss what I’ve said, and label me kooky or simplistic. I won’t argue that response! It does seem a bit crazy, for sure. But the author of this Scripture verse is one who knew what it meant to find himself in less than favorable situations. Somehow he had gained a perspective through his suffering for Christ and his life journey that is instructive and rings true.
It is easy to thank God when things are good. And by the way, thanking him in good times is not outside the intent of this passage! He didn’t exclude the good things as a context in which we thank Him.
Just as Paul said in Philippians (4:11) that he had learned to be content in every situation, I believe that this giving of thanks in each situation is also a learned behavior. It takes practice! It’s not something we wake up doing one day, just like an old pro. The always-thankful heart comes from maturity and walking a long road with the Father, over a lot of pains and ups and downs. It is not something that I have achieved, but it is the direction I want to go in. I want to develop an always-thankful heart. It’s also another reason we need to be in fellowship with others. We need the experience of the Body of Christ in knowing how to move forward. And others coming behind us and alongside us might want us to model for them how to give thanks in all circumstances.
“Help us, Father, to learn how to always give thanks in the midst of all circumstances. Help us to keep looking to you for perspective, and demonstrate a grateful heart that you indeed are Lord and King of the universe, and that you take care of your people—even when we can’t recognize the big picture.”
Freddy Boswell 