Give Thanks in Everything

“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 CSB)

One person receives news that his stock has split, resulting in a windfall profit, while another person receives news that it’s leukemia. One person’s children all live highly productive lives, while another person’s children seem to always struggle with one thing or another.

We read the text above, and we are to give thanks for everything, no matter what? Well, that’s not exactly what it says. It says we are to give thanks “in” everything, not necessarily “for” everything. There’s a big difference between those two little prepositions. The idea is that, whatever is going on in your life, whether it is something you take as good news or not so good news, it is important for your spiritual well being to bring all of it before God in a spirit of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, you see, is more of an attitude we have toward God.

All of our experiences help us to grow. Whatever the experience, or event, or news that comes our way, God is able to help us grow, and we give thanks to Him simply because He is with us to sustain us, strengthen us, and challenge us, as well as to comfort and encourage us. Giving thanks to God in the midst of any and every experience actually has a way of lifting us up and pointing us toward hope. It is an affirmation of faith and an acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty. And that serves to build up our relationship of trust with our Lord.

Father, Help us through this day to give thanks to you in the midst of any experience we go through. Amen.