The Radical Command: Thanksgiving in All Circumstances
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Introduction
Today, we focus our hearts on one of the most challenging and radical commands in the Bible. It is found nestled right in the final instructions of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica, a letter written to encourage new believers facing persecution. It is a three-part instruction: rejoice always, pray continually, and our focus: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
This isn’t a suggestion for a nice holiday or polite advice. This is a divine imperative, a command that cuts against the grain of our natural human reaction. Giving thanks when things are good is easy. Giving thanks in all circumstances—when the diagnosis is grim, the job is lost, the relationship is broken, or the path ahead is dark—that is where faith is truly defined and tested.
To understand the profound nature of this command, let’s explore three vital aspects of this verse.
1. The Command: A Foundation, Not a Feeling
The first thing we must grasp is that “Give thanks” is an action verb rooted in conviction, not a passive reaction based on convenience. It is a matter of discipline and worship.
When the Psalmist wrote, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1), he wasn’t waiting for a good day to start praising. He was declaring an unchangeable truth about God’s nature. Our gratitude, therefore, should be tethered to God’s eternal goodness, not our temporary situation.
Furthermore, this command is directly linked to prayer. Consider the powerful instruction in Philippians:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Notice the sequence: Prayer, combined with thanksgiving, is the antidote to anxiety. When we pause in the middle of our worry to find something to thank God for—His faithfulness, His promise, His presence—we are actively disarming our worry. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks God’s peace.
2. The Scope: The Challenge of “All Circumstances”
The heart of the command is its scope: “in all circumstances.” This does not mean we are commanded to be thankful for the suffering, but rather to find reason for gratitude within the suffering.
Paul knew the difference between enduring a shipwreck (Acts 27) and simply having a nice day. This is the hardest part of the text, but the Bible gives us examples and assurances for how to live this out:
A. Thankfulness in Trial
When faced with difficulty, we are tempted to despair. But James writes:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-4).
We give thanks in the trial because we are thanking God for the promised outcome of the trial: perseverance, maturity, and completeness. Our circumstances might be painful, but our future is secure, and the process is purposeful.
B. Thankfulness in Loss
Perhaps the most potent biblical example comes from the man who lost everything in a single day: Job.
After his children, livestock, and fortune were taken, Job fell to the ground in worship and said,
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).
Job’s worship was not predicated on what he had, but on who God is—Sovereign, Giver, and worthy of praise regardless of the ledger.
Another striking instance is King David’s response to the death of his infant son (2 Samuel 12:15–23). While the child was ill, David fasted and wept, pleading with God. But the moment the child died, David arose, washed, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the Lord and worshipped (2 Samuel 12:20).
When his servants questioned this abrupt shift from mourning to worship, David explained:
“While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:22–23).
David’s ultimate surrender and acceptance of God’s unchangeable will, and his immediate turning to worship, stand as a testament to thanksgiving in the face of profound grief.
C. Thankfulness in Uncertainty
This is grounded in the great promise of Romans 8:28:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Because we trust in God’s ultimate purpose, we can give thanks even when the current plot twist makes no sense. We know the story ends not with our defeat, but with our sanctification and glory.
A profound example of this trust is found in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
When commanded to worship the king’s idol, they refused, knowing the consequence was the fiery furnace. Their declaration was one of utter confidence in God’s ability, yet complete surrender to His will:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us… But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:17–18).
Their steadfast resolve, regardless of the outcome, is the ultimate expression of thanksgiving in the midst of uncertainty, knowing that their eternal standing with God was secure.
3. The Reason: It is God’s Will “in Christ Jesus”
Why is this command so critical? Because it is not an arbitrary rule; it defines our identity and purpose:
“For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Thanksgiving is a fundamental expression of the redeemed life.
A. It Glorifies Christ in Everything
Paul reiterates this point in Colossians:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).
When we thank God in the good and the bad, we are telling the world that our ultimate source of joy, hope, and provision is not our income, our health, or our comfort, but Jesus Christ Himself. Thanksgiving is the loudest form of worship.
B. It is Our Spiritual Sacrifice
The book of Hebrews calls us to a continual expression of gratitude that serves as our ultimate offering:
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
In the Old Testament, sacrifices were bloody and costly. In the New Testament, our sacrifice is the deliberate choice to praise God when we feel like complaining. This is the costly “sacrifice of praise.”
A Call to Action
The challenge of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is immense, but the reward is great: it is peace, power, and the assurance that we are walking in the very center of God’s will.
Let us heed this command, not just in moments of blessing, but in the difficult, mundane, and painful places of our lives. When you feel overwhelmed, stop. Pray. And deliberately look for one thing—just one—that is still true about God’s goodness in your life.
PRAYER POINTS
· Thanksgiving in All Circumstances
Prayer: “Lord, help me to give thanks in every situation, whether good or challenging, knowing that You are in control.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18, Romans 8:28.
· Gratitude as a Lifestyle
Prayer: “Father, teach me to cultivate a heart of gratitude daily, not just when things go well.”
Colossians 3:17, Psalm 34:1.
· Understanding God’s Will
Prayer: “Lord, open my eyes to see that giving thanks is part of Your will for my life in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 5:20, Micah 6:8.
· Faith in Difficult Times
Prayer: “God, strengthen my faith so I can trust You and remain thankful even when I don’t understand what You’re doing.”
Habakkuk 3:17–18, James 1:2–3.
· Joy and Peace Through Gratitude
Prayer: “Holy Spirit, fill my heart with joy and peace as I choose to thank You in all things.”
Philippians 4:6–7, Isaiah 26:3.
· Testimony of Gratitude
Prayer: “Lord, let my life be a testimony of thankfulness that draws others to You.”
Matthew 5:16, Psalm 105:1.
· Breaking the Spirit of Complaint
Prayer: “Father, deliver me from a complaining spirit and help me to focus on Your goodness.”
Philippians 2:14–15, Numbers 11:1.
· Thankfulness in Prayer
Prayer: “Lord, may my prayers always begin with thanksgiving, acknowledging Your faithfulness.”
Psalm 100:4, Colossians 4:2.
May God give us the grace to make this radical command our daily reality in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Welcome to the month of November 2025 — the month of giving thanks to God in all circumstances.
Yours in the Lord,
Pastor Lillian Haastrup
