Give Thanks in All Circumstances? Even This?

In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…”

Okay, Paul, easy for you to say. And by “all circumstances,” do you mean all circumstances? What about the guy who just cut me off in traffic? What about the state of the world around us? What about that crazy thing I saw online? What about my child, who is struggling with friends and with their mental health? What about my marriage that is falling apart? What about the stress of trying to pay the bills, fill the car and put food on the table? What about… (you fill in the blank)?

With all the “what abouts,” Paul’s words can sound impossible, like empty platitudes. That is, until you consider who Paul is and everything he went through. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul gives a résumé of his “circumstances”:

“…far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23–28)

This man went through a lot, and he still says to rejoice and be grateful. But why? Why give thanks in all circumstances? Paul goes on in 1 Thessalonians 5: “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

If you’ve ever wondered what God wants you to do in a particular situation, what your purpose is, or what God wants from you, part of the answer is clear: give thanks. And Paul gives us the source of our thanks: “in Christ Jesus.”

The wellspring of our gratitude is Jesus Himself. It’s who He is: God in the flesh, our Immanuel. It’s what He has done for us through the cross and the empty tomb. It’s what He has given us in His mercy, grace and new life. Our gratitude rests in the peace and hope we have in Him.

I’ve seen this seemingly impossible rejoicing and thanksgiving not only in Paul, but in my cousin Scott.

Scott passed away at 38. My whole life, he was a towering giant to me at 6'6". He was always great to be around, but for most of his life he was agnostic at best: God might be real, but He didn’t really matter.

Then Scott was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In the middle of his battle, God brought an incredible woman named Chrissy into his life. They married and had a daughter. Scott lived in a little town in Minnesota, and he would take his daughter to the park. There he met another dad who brought his daughter to the same park. They became friends, and that dad happened to be the pastor of one of the churches in town. Through that friendship, God brought Scott back to Himself and to the church.

Shortly before he passed away, I went to see him. As we sat in his living room, he told me about a men’s Bible study he’d joined that met at a coffee shop across the street. They were studying the story of Joseph, how Joseph’s brothers meant it for evil when they sold him into slavery, but God meant it for good. Scott told me that after that study, he was walking home, stopped in the middle of the street, and thanked God for his brain tumor, because without it he wouldn’t have come to know Jesus.

That is giving thanks in all circumstances. That is the will of God in Christ Jesus on display.
I miss my cousin and think of him often, especially his faith and his gratitude. The grief is very real, but I thank God for the gift Scott was to everyone who knew him. And I thank God that I will see him again.

I don’t know what circumstances you’re walking through. I’m sure they are very real: difficult, complicated or painful. But I encourage you to hand them all over to Jesus, and then do the seemingly impossible: give thanks to God.

Join us this Sunday 
If you’re looking for a place to bring all your situations and circumstances to the Lord, and to lift up gratitude and praise to the One who is worthy of them, please join us on a Sunday. We would be so grateful to have you worship with us!

A Thanksgiving prayer
Heavenly Father, there have been a lot of situations and circumstances in my life this past year, but I want to thank You for always being there. Thank You that in Jesus, Your mercies are new every morning. Amen.