…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Eph 5:20
It’s hard to overlook how far-reaching the text above is when it comes to our call to be thankful. When should we give thanks? Always! If we try to somehow minimize the strength of that word and ask, “Yeah, but what kind of stuff should we be thankful for?” God’s reply is, “All things!” There is really nothing left out of that text when it comes to the things that touch our lives. A similar passage is found in 1Th 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This attitude of rejoicing while praying in thanksgiving to God should be our continual, unceasing manner of life because in doing so we are walking according to the will of God!
How do we exhibit such behavior in our daily practice? Does it mean we are to always have a smile, laugh in every circumstance, and never weep, sorrow, or mourn? That can’t be the case because the same apostle who wrote our text said of the great number of souls who were walking contrary to truth, “of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ”. (Php 3:18) Paul wept over these lost souls! Can he behave that way while also rejoicing and giving thanks? Absolutely! He said in 2Co 6:10 that as ministers of Christ, he was “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”. The believer can display outward sorrow and still have inner joy and thanksgiving. But what does such an attitude look like?
I believe there is a key text that helps us with this question in Mat 28:9. It will be overlooked by many of us because several modern translations use an English word that makes the truth in this verse less obvious. In this text, Jesus meets the women that have just departed from his empty tomb. Some translations render Christ’s first word to them as, “Greetings”, but the NKJV and the AMP translate the Greek word correctly. His word to them is, “Rejoice!” (the same Greek word we quoted above in 1Th 5:16 where we were told to “rejoice always”) Well, of course they should rejoice. He’s risen from the dead! What else should they do?!! What they do next in this verse explains how we rejoice and give thanks always. They “worshiped Him”. That’s what true thanksgiving and rejoicing always produces in the heart of the believer. Even in difficult circumstances, we recognize that our Lord reigns over all, so we worship him in spite of the pain and suffering we experience.
There is perhaps no clearer example of this truth among God’s saints than in Job 1. In this one moment in time, this wealthy ruler of men and father of many gets the news that he has lost everything. His many livestock are stolen or dead, all his servants but a few have been murdered, and his ten children have been crushed to death when a strong wind causes the house to collapse upon them. I can’t imagine the grief Job must have felt at this moment. His spirit was broken, his soul was mourning, and his outward appearance conveyed his great sorrow: “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground…” (Job 1:20) Can we say that he still gave thanks and rejoiced even in the midst of this tremendous trial? We can because of how the verse finishes. After all of this, Job “worshiped.” Even in such bitter suffering, Job praised God saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (v. 21) He acknowledged the Lord was still reigning even in these devastating circumstances and that He was still worthy of praise!
Dear soul, that is the key to continual thanksgiving and perpetual joy. We hurt so badly at times that it would be a lie to smile. It’s okay to let our grief show as long as we don’t “sorrow as others who have no hope”. (1Th 4:13) We have an everlasting hope because Christ conquered the grave! He sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high reigning over all! No tears ever fall from the eyes of his saints without purpose, and He has a glorious end in mind for every trial His children endure. Worship Him! Are you afraid in the midst of your present storm? Let that fear drive you to the Lord. As the psalmist said, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” (Psa 56:3) Don’t forget Jer 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” And so, give “thanks always for all things…”
Jamie