by Justin Morton
On Thursday, many of us will gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. Although we do already have our Christmas tree up at the Morton house, I love Thanksgiving. I love everything from the anticipation we feel on Wednesday as the family is already starting to prepare some of the food, to the road trip to grandma’s house. I love the family meal we share to the laying around and saying “I ate too much.” Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday many of us enjoy.
And while we will celebrate and reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for this week, let’s not forget our lives should be centered around giving thanks every day of every year. The Apostle Paul said, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:18). According to Paul, no matter our situation, we should always give thanks. But let’s be honest for a moment, being thankful is not always easy. Sometimes we find ourselves in some very difficult positions. And still Paul said, “Give thanks in ALL circumstances.”
The word ALL in this passage is significant. If anyone could have found a reason not to be grateful due to his circumstances, it was certainly Paul. He experienced a great deal of pain and suffering for serving the Lord. The difficulties he had to endure were many (2 Corinthians 11:23-33). And yet, Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Why would Paul write such a thing? While it would be easy to speculate his reasoning, the answer is found at the end of the verse. The reason we should give thanks in all circumstances is because “This is the will of God, in Christ Jesus for you.” Friends, it is God’s will for us to be people who always give thanks no matter our situation.
As you spend time reflecting on all the things you are thankful for this coming week, I hope you will allow that attitude to carry over to every other day of your life. Our circumstances may not always be pleasant, they may even be trying and challenging, but just stop and consider all the great blessings God has given us and our families. God has been so good to each one of us and has already given us the victory through His Son, Jesus Christ. May we always be grateful and thankful to Him for all He has done.