On the eve of another Thanksgiving, it seems appropriate to take a few minutes and reflect upon the importance of being thankful. Not simply because of the holiday, but primarily in light of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, where he urges believers to:
"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
Most of us have so much to be thankful for, but if we’re honest, it’s grumbling about our frustrations and irritations that kind of comes naturally. And while I’m sure we can all rattle off the list of everything about our lives that isn’t quite meeting our expectations… being thankful? That’s a choice. It’s deliberately choosing not to take our blessings for granted.
And not many of us do it often enough…
So although there’s certainly nothing wrong with a day of Thanksgiving, it seems like a far cry from what Paul is admonishing us to do: be thankful in “all circumstances”. And while this may seem like a tall order, it’s not merely some random thought from the apostle. This theme permeates Paul’s writings (not to mention the rest of the New Testament). Just turn back to Philippians, where he expounds upon these same admonitions to rejoice, pray, and be thankful:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near - so 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 4:4-7
These aren’t empty words from Paul. He wrote this letter when he was being held under house arrest, chained to a Roman soldier! He was not a free man; nevertheless, Paul was able to rejoice because his hope was rooted in his relationship with his Savior, Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all and Son of the Living God. He was at peace, he was content, because he chose to focus on the good things he had to be thankful for, and left his circumstances in God’s capable hands. He continues:
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:8-9,12-13 (NLT)
And it is in this passage that we see the power of intentional thankfulness, which comes from appreciating those things that are “good”, even when times and circumstances are hardest…you can always find something, no matter how small that good may seem. So every day, we should be reminding ourselves of the “good” that exists in the world and in each other. It doesn’t mean that we ignore real issues, or that we still don’t feel it when something that isn’t good happens; but, choosing to remember the “excellent and praiseworthy” helps put inconveniences into perspective and keeps us from being overwhelmed by our circumstances.
So this Thanksgiving, think about what it means to give thanks in “all circumstances”. Give thanks for the small things. Big things. Even the hard things that God has brought you through. Look for and genuinely appreciate what is “good”, even in the things that are driving you the most crazy. And then resolve to take a few minutes every day to keep doing it. Because whenever we neglect Paul’s exhortation to be thankful, or worse yet focus on those parts of our lives that seem to be anything but “good”, we deprive God of the praise He not only desires, but also deserves.
And over time, as we develop a daily rhythm of showing gratitude to God for everything we have to be thankful for, our prayers come alive. Our joy increases. And we find more things to be thankful for. And the cycle repeats…
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ.”
Maybe it’s not such a tall order, after all.
Socratic Christianity 