This time of year we talk a lot about thankfulness. We’re thankful for our families, our homes, our friends, our jobs…the list goes on and on.
It’s easy to be thankful when things are going well, but what about when life throws us a curve? When your child struggles for life, you hold a pink slip in your hand, or your home lies in ashes, the last thing you feel like saying is “Thank You.”
Yet, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” How is this even possible?
The answer lies in looking closer at the wording of the verse. Notice Paul doesn’t say to give thanks “about” all circumstances nor does he say to be thankful “for” every situation. No, He says we are to give thanks “in” all circumstances.
It would be ridiculous to be thankful for a spouse walking out, a loved one dying, or when disaster strikes, but we can be thankful in the midst of these situations.
Why? Psalm 118:1 holds the answer. It says, “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
No matter what our circumstance God is still good. He can still be depended on. He will never leave us nor forsake us. More importantly, His love never ends, it “endures forever.”
Today, you may not feel to thankful “for” your circumstances, but you can be thankful “in” them, because these two facts will never change – God is good and His love endures forever. Lean on Him and He will carry you through.
God bless and have a great day!