larshaukeland

06 In everything give thanks

Encouragement for difficult days (6):
IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Some say that we should only give thanks in everything, not for everything. This is not what the Bible teaches. In Ephesians 5:20 it says “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”, so that excuse can not be used.
God never commands what He cannot enable us to fulfill, otherwise He would be mocking us and weakening His own word. When Jesus was here on earth, He commanded people to do impossible things; i.e. commanding a man with a crippled hand to stretch it out, and a paralytic to get up and walk.
God’s commandments are God’s enablements. So when God commands us to be thankful in all things and for all things, then He will enable us to do just that.
God permitted Job to go through all kinds of trials, yet in the end, the trials were for Job’s good and God’s glory. His suffering and tears were turned to glory and joy.

When problems in life hit us, we first say “Why did this happen?” Then we say “Why did this happen to me?” The accuser would say “If God loves you so much, why did this happen? I thought God promised to care for His children. He certainly isn’t caring for you!”
Always remember that God loves you just as much now as He did when He died on the cross, it’s just our circumstances that has changed. We need to trust Him just like a little child will trust his parents before going into surgery at a hospital. Yes, it might be frightening at first, but after the surgery, there will be more fun that can be enjoyed more with better health.

Because we love Him and He loves us, we trust Him, and our hope grows stronger, we are able to praise the Lord and give thanks – in everything and for everything.