"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In every thing give thanks:”
There is something in every situation or circumstance in life for which we can be thankful. Paul begins with the little preposition “in.” He doesn’t say “for” everything give thanks, but “in” everything give thanks. We don’t have to “feel thankful” to honestly offer our thanks to God. By faith, we can thank Him for His sovereignty and care for us in any difficult situation, not just the good and happy ones. As we learn to submit to our sovereign God, we learn how we can be thankful in any case we can know that each situation is within His plan for us. We don’t want to let our circumstances dictate our attitude and relationship to the Lord. No matter how tough the situation we may be in, we need to remember to whom we belong and to rejoice in our Savior.
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ephesians 5:20).
We need to learn the lesson that “trusting God” and “thanking God” go together. When we trust the Lord for what He is doing in our lives, we can also thank Him for we know He is doing what He is doing for our good and His glory. As we are learning to trust Him habitually, we are learning that we can also thank Him too. Here’s a good question for us, “if we are griping and grumbling in a situation, are we thanking the Lord?” No, because our grippy attitude is not being thankful, neither is it trusting Him.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God,” (Philippians 4:6).
“For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus”
God’s will for His child is vital. All who are “in Christ Jesus” need to obey His will. Some say they cannot do God’s will if they don’t know what God’s will is. Well, here’s a place where we cannot mistake what God’s will is, He tells us plainly—being thankful believers is His will for us. The text could not be written any more explicitly.
“Concerning you.”
Here it is, not for your pastor, or for your parents, your siblings, your neighbors, but for you! Isn’t it interesting how we sometimes think we can discern God’s will for everyone but ourselves? But here it is, this one is for you and me! Be thankful!