Reasons to Give Thanks in Everything

We are getting closer to the celebration in our country known as Thanksgiving. The modern “thanksgiving” holiday was first officially called for in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. It has been moved around the calendar in the month of November through the years before settling on the fourth Thursday in November by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

There was a desire to see a day set aside to remember and give thanks for the blessings that we have in life. As one author once said, “Thanksgiving really should be thanksliving — a way of life — day in, day out, morning, noon, and night — continually, forever giving thanks to the Lord.”

There are times when it seems easy to give thanks: when things seem to be going the way they should, when good health is present, when there’s plenty of money in the bank, when your favorite sports team is winning. Other times, it might not be as easy to give thanks: when the doctors come in with bad news, when you get that phone call, when there seems to be nothing but fighting and turmoil. These can prove to be hard times to give thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 CSB

give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

When we look to the Bible, we see that God’s Word tells us… actually it commands us to give thanks in everything. The Bible also goes on to show us that this is a part of God’s will (desire) for each of our lives.

Many people often ask the question, “What is God’s will for my life?” We can see clearly in this verse that one part of that will — desire, perfect plan — that God has for our lives is to give thanks in everything — in every circumstance, good or bad.

We should be quick to notice that the Bible says to give thanks “in” everything, not “for” everything. When evil, injustice, or cruelty arise, we are not instructed to be thankful for those things.

Illustration: Corrie & Betsie ten Boom being thankful for the fleas.

During WWII, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom worked to hide and help Jews escape the Nazis. They were sent to Ravenbruck Concentration Camp which was overcrowded and flea-infested. They were able to smuggle a Bible in and read the verse that we’re looking at today. Betsie decided to give thanks for the fleas, but that was a little too much for Corrie. They noticed that for several months, the guards never entered their barracks. They would later find out, it was because of the fleas. This enabled the sisters to hold open Bible studies and prayer meetings in the middle of the concentration camp.

What could cause a person to be thankful in every situation… even being in a flea-infested, overcrowded concentration camp? I believe that that comes from knowing who God truly is.

Just because a person is a Christ-follower does not mean that they are immune to trials, pains, difficulties, and sufferings in life. We are some of the first to experience that this life can be brutal at times.

What could cause a person to be thankful in every situation… even being in a flea-infested, overcrowded concentration camp? I believe that that comes from knowing who God truly is.

Reasons to Give Thanks in Everything

The Lord is sovereign

Deuteronomy 4:39 CSB

Today, recognize and keep in mind that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.

When we say that God is sovereign, we are stating the fact that He is in complete control. He rules over all creation. Everything in all of creation has to answer to Him.

When we see God as He truly is… like Isaiah saw Him in , we will begin to realize that He’s got all things under His control and nothing will fall out of the bounds that He desires.

The Lord is present

There will never be a place that we can go that He is not there.

Deuteronomy 31:8 CSB

The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

Psalm 139:7–12 CSB

Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”— even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.

There may be times when you feel like you are alone and that no one cares or sees the predicament that you are in. Know this truth, there is One that sees… One that knows exactly where you are… and what’s even better, the Lord is right there with you to guide you to where you need to be.

The Lord is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 CSB

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

While we may encounter many people in our lives that will let us down at times, the Lord Jesus never will. For the Lord to be unfaithful would go against His nature. There has never been a promise that the Lord has made to anyone that has been broken… and He will not start with you.

The Lord is understanding.

Hebrews 4:15 CSB

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus understands what we are going through. In His life on earth and death on the cross, Jesus went through tremendous pain and suffering. He was constantly misunderstood, ridiculed, and mistreated. He knows what it is like to live in this broken and sinful world.

One of the reasons that He came and lived on this earth going through everything — every trial, every temptation — was so that He could honestly look each person in the eyes and say, “I know what you’re going through.” Those can be some of the most refreshing words… to know that you are not alone… to know that you are not the only one who is or has dealt with this issue.

Jesus knows what we are going through. What is even better is that He has and will provide what we need to be victorious in life.

The Lord is working.

One final reason that we can give thanks to the Lord in every circumstance we find ourselves in is because He’s not done working on, in, and through us.

Philippians 1:6 CSB

I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The very fact that you are still alive and breathing is evidence that God is not done with you.

Many times, people will look to for comfort in trying times. It is a good verse, but I would encourage you to keep on reading the next two verses for the whole picture.

Romans 8:28–30 CSB

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:28 CSB

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

God’s plan is to have every person that trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation to be conformed to the image of Christ. That is a work that only God can do in a person’s life. In these verses, we see that He has promised to finish that work. As different circumstances come our way, we look to this truth and realize that we can give the Lord thanks in any situation because as the old song says, “He’s still working on me… to make me what I ought to be...”

Conclusion

There will be various circumstance that we will find ourselves in life. Some of them are going to be good… some are going to be trying… some are going to be more than we can handle on our own.

This Thanksgiving, you might be looking for a reason to be thankful. I hope that you can see from God’s Word that there truly many reasons that we can and should fulfill the command that our God gave us in — to give thanks in everything. It is a part of God’s will for your life because as you give thanks, you begin to see and learn more about the Lord and His love for you.

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