Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Wow, there is so much in this one short verse. I taught a children's lesson last week about this verse, and as often happens, God ended up teaching me!! This verse is encouraging and comforting to me, because it gives instruction to each Christian about God's plan for our lives. Maybe you are a college student struggling with a career choice. Maybe you are a woman struggling with infertility. Maybe you are a senior adult struggling with what God would have you do after retirement. No matter what God's specific plan is for each of our lives, this verse says that there is one thing that we can all be sure is in God's will for our lives.......to give thanks in all circumstances. So, whether we know God's specific plan for our lives at this moment or not, we can be actively living in His will. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, we should give thanks.
This brings up some tough questions, though. We all know that it is easy to give thanks in the good circumstances, but what about the hard times that we all find ourselves in sometimes. What about that woman that is struggling with infertility? Or what about a widow that is alone during the holidays, remembering times past? What about a mother that has just unexpectedly lost a child in a random accident? Do they have to give thanks in these circumstances as well?
This is the really cool part that gets me excited!! You see, it is the last three words in this verse that are the secret ingredient, if you will. When tough times come, we as Christians, can have hope and are able to be grateful, because we are in Christ Jesus. We know from experience that God can be trusted and even when our hearts might be breaking, we can still have faith in His love and have hope for our lives in Christ Jesus. And oh, what a testimony it is to the people around us when they see a Christian giving thanks during a horrific circumstance. Of course, God doesn't say that we have to give thanks for the circumstance, only to give thanks during it! :) There are specific Christians in my own life that immediately come to mind when I think of someone who gave thanks during a tough circumstance. This causes unbelievers to do a double take and consider the power of this person we call, Christ Jesus. That is what it's all about.
So, this Thanksgiving season, no matter what circumstances you are in, I encourage you to give thanks and to have hope. Remember, if you are a Christian, you have an unmatchable power inside of you just waiting to be tapped into. If you are not a Christian, maybe this is the day that God has chosen to invite you to accept him into your life.
