"Giving Thanks in All Circumstances"

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16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV)

  • If God really works in everything (Romans 8:28), why don't we thank Him for everything? Why do we accept good from His hand and not bad?
  • Neglecting to give thanks only deepens the wound of the world
  • Doesn't God call His people to a non-discriminating response in all circumstances? "Give thanks always and for everything" (Ephesians 5:20 ESV)
  • If I only thank Him when the fig tree buds is this not "selective faith"? Practical atheism?
  • What of faith in a God who wastes nothing? Who makes all into grace?
  • Mine is only to faithfully see His Word and wholly obey Him in this
  • Therein is the tree of life
  • Is this why He commands "give thanks in all circumstances"?
  • Because to thank God in all is to refuse Satan's relentless lure to be god-like in all
  • To thank God in all is to bend the knee in allegiance to God Who alone knows all
  • To thank God in all is to give God glory in all. Is this not our chief end?
  • When I only give thanks for somethings, am I likely to miss giving God glory in most things?
  • Murmuring thanks is not to deny that an event is not a tragedy and neither does it deny that there's a cracking fissure straight across the heart
  • Giving thanks is only this: making the canyon of pain into a megaphone to proclaim the ultimate goodness of God
  • Our thanks to God is our witness to the goodness of God when Satan and all the world would sneer at us to recant
  • That which I refuse to thank Christ for, I refuse to believe Christ can redeem
  • His perfect love casts out all fears and leaves only thanks

Matt Redman's praise song "Blessed Be Your Name" is also another good example that shows understanding of God's sovereign hand in all circumstances, in times that are good, and in times that are tough. The mature believer sees God's hand a work no matter what and understands James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

"Blessed Be Your Name" ©2002, Matt Redman

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

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