Give Thanks In All Circumstances

November 23, 2023 | Emily Shelton

It’s Thanksgiving Day! A day to eat turkey and pumpkin pie, to watch football and argue politics with family members, to fall asleep on the couch with a full belly. But most importantly, it’s a day to be thankful.

While the official holiday started with the Pilgrims and Native Americans, the idea of giving thanks obviously did not originate with them. Thanksgiving is an idea that is prevalent throughout the Bible. As Christians, it’s great to take time to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day. But the Bible reminds us that thanksgiving is more than just a day to be thankful. It’s a way of living that should be put into practice every single day.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Does Paul really mean ALL circumstances? Even the bad circumstances like fighting cancer, losing a job, going through a divorce or struggling with depression? How is it possible to continue to give thanks when our circumstances continue to beat us down?

Understanding how to give thanks in every circumstance first requires us to understand what giving thanks really means. Often the focus of our thanks is on material things and worldly desires. We thank God for our food, a roof over our heads, a new job, a healing from illness. It is good to give thanks for these things! We can even find examples of this type of thanksgiving in the Bible. But if the only things we ever give thanks for are material things, what happens when we don’t have those things? How are we able to give thanks in all circumstances when circumstances don’t go our way?

The book of Psalms provides numerous references for giving thanks to God. Throughout the book, thanksgiving is used nearly synonymously with praise and worship. Thanking God is a way to worship God, showing praise and admiration for who God is and what he has done. Making God the focus of our thanks will help us to live a life of thanksgiving every day and in every circumstance.

Thank God for Who He Is

No matter what our circumstances on earth, God remains the same. We can thank him for who he is at all times. Psalms provides several examples of this type of thanksgiving:

- Thank God because he is righteous. He is perfect in all of his ways. In Psalm 7:17, David says, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”

- Thank God because he is good and his love is faithful. A common refrain in the book of Psalms and elsewhere in the Old Testament states, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:41, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:29, Psalm 136:1-3, Jeremiah 33:11).

- Thank God because he is King and Lord of all. When circumstances are hard, God remains the King over all the powers of this world. In Psalm 95:3, it says, “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.”

Thank God for What He Has Done

The Bible is filled with examples of God’s good deeds, and the psalmists spend a great deal of time praising and thanking God for his marvelous works. A few examples from Psalms:

- Thank God because he forgives our sins and redeems us. Psalm 103:2-3 states, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” And beyond Psalms, we also have the advantage of knowing the whole story of God’s redemptive plan in sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

- Thank God because he helps us in our times of need. Psalm 118:7-8, says, “The Lord is with me, he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” Many consider David to be the author of Psalm 118, and it is common throughout Psalms to see David give thanks to God for helping him and saving him from his enemies.

- Thank God because he created us. God’s work in creation provides us with concrete evidence of his power and a reason for our thanksgiving. In Psalm 136: 3-9, it states, “Give thanks to the Lord of lords, to him who alone does great wonders, who by his understanding made the heavens, who spread out the earth upon the waters, who made the great lights—the sun to govern the day, the moon and stars to govern the night.”

Keeping the focus of our thanks on God by remembering who he is and what he has done allows us to give thanks in every circumstance. Because while our circumstances will always be changing, God always remains steadfast. He is eternally good, faithful and powerful. He keeps his promises and has provided the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ his son.

Take some time on this Thanksgiving Day to praise God with thanksgiving for his goodness, faithfulness and love. Thank him for his good work in creation and salvation. Let your thanks move beyond solely giving gratitude for material things. Let your thanks be more than just a one-day event. Give thanks in all circumstances. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever!