THANK GOD ANYWAY?

 

OCTOBER 2, 2023

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 

When is it easiest to be thankful? When things are going well, right?

While it might be easier to praise God when we are most happy and comfortable, however, the Bible suggests that it is just as important, to offer our thanks to God during messy and hard circumstances. Seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Hard to understand such advice.

In 1 Thessalonians, our verse above, Paul tells the community of believers at Thessalonica to rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances. This is hard to do, to give thanks when things aren’t going so well.

So why do we have to give thanks?

Why can’t we give in to the cynicism and thanklessness we feel in such seasons?

Simply answer is because God calls us to a life of continual thankfulness. It is God’s desire that we give thanks.

Do not be confused that this call to thankfulness somehow means that we are “Happy, Happy, Happy, and always smiling. Let’s be honest, sometimes things in life are hard and painful, and the proper response is to mourn or to be upset, a little angry too. Yet, in moments like these God asks us to thank Him anyway.

The trials in our lives are not pointless. God has a purpose for everything, even the difficult. We might not be able to see the good, but God can see the whole picture and we can gain hope in knowing that our suffering is not in vain, but rather, that God takes these moments and shapes them to our best interests and to his glory. “All things work for good, to those who are called according to God’s purpose.”

You see we do not need to feel thankful before we give thanks. But by faith we can say, “Lord, I trust that You are good and that You know what You’re doing in this difficult situation. I submit to Your hand and purpose, knowing that You will work it together for my good.”

The story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) illustrates this truth. Joseph’s brothers hated him and planned to kill him until they saw a caravan of traders heading toward Egypt. So, they cruelly sold their brother into slavery. He ended up getting thrown in prison, even though he obeyed God by resisting the advances of Potiphar’s wife. He begged the cupbearer to mention his case to Pharaoh so that he could be released, but the cupbearer forgot. Two years later, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and was instantly elevated to the second most powerful position in the country.

Later, he was able to be reconciled to his brothers and to see his aged father again. But after Jacob died, the brothers feared that Joseph would get even with them for what they had done. At that point, Joseph wept and asked, “Am I in God’s place?” Then he revealed the theological perspective that had sustained him during those awful years of slavery and imprisonment (Gen. 50:20): “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Joseph saw that trusting the goodness of God in every situation was the key to a thankful heart.

So, this Thanksgiving, whether you see the blessing abounding in your life or you are struggling to find anything to be thankful for, let us turn to God trusting in Him and His perfect purpose for our lives and give thanks.

Perhaps we will discover what the Psalm 92 declares,

Psalms 92:1-2

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to the Most High.

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening, . . .

For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;

    I sing for joy at what your hands have done.