Be Thankful in All Circumstances

by Joshua Lim “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) “..singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, the Father.” (Ephesians 5:20) “..singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. and whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:16,17) “at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… suddenly there was a great earthquake..” (Acts 16:25,26) In the end times, ingratitude will characterize many people. People in general will become more wicked and less grateful. “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.” (2 Timothy 3:1,2) “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:21) People will complain about their circumstances, hoping for some “lucky break” to help him. With a big ego, he thanks himself for who he is, thinking that everything comes from his own efforts. The thankless person despises the idea of grace. It is sad to see Christians who always seem to be stressed out, dissatisfied, depressed, and unhappy about their circumstances. Are we giving thanks to God every day for His grace? “God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) As Vonette Bright said, “When we express thanksgiving and gratitude to God, peace flooded our hearts, and He provided the solution. Always be thankful…especially in crisis. God can turn your tragedy to triumph, discord to harmony, and defeat to victory.” In the Old Testament (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-36), thank offerings and peace offerings were to remind God’s people of their need to be thankful to God. They would bring a sheaf of grain and some oil and wine as thank offerings. These were symbols of the Lord’s provision, a reminder to thank Him for His grace and mercy in supplying all they have.