“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 

“Give thanks in all circumstances”? Is that possible, or was Paul simply throwing a challenge to the Thessalonians? Did he really mean to give thanks when you’re in a financial crisis? Or when you’ve just lost a loved one? Or when you’re struggling with your academics? Could there be something to be thankful for in any of those situations?

The truth is there is always something to be thankful for in all circumstances if you look beyond the negative. If you find it hard to look beyond the negative, ask God to help you gain knowledge of the many things He does that you can’t see physically. There is no expiration date for God’s blessings thus even when you can’t see what God is doing now, you can always thank Him for blessings He has bestowed upon you in the past.

The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. Psalm 145:9

God is good. No matter what is going on around you, God is always good. That is His nature. The Lord is good to ALLLLL. Not some!  His plans and thoughts for you are always good. You draw closer to Him if you learn to praise Him in all circumstances.

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

God expects you to acknowledge who He is and what he has done for you in Christ. That is what true thanksgiving is based on anyway. Let it stir up thanksgiving in your heart to Him, and use it to testify of His glory to others so they MAY SEEK HIM TOO.

Take advantage of this season to reflect on the things we can be thankful to God for…life, health, family, friends, jobs and the many other blessings money cannot buy.

“By looking for that one tiny thing to be thankful for, you are sending a signal to your entire being that you are not bound by the present and that the best is yet to come.” – Miriam Neff

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