How Can We Be Grateful In All Circumstances?

Illus.: A father in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty years of misery is enough. "Dad, what are you talking about?" the son screams. We can't live together any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her." Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "What? They're getting divorced?" she shouts. "I'll take care of this," she said. And then she calls Phoenix immediately and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Please don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back. We'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" And she hangs up. After the father hangs up his phone, he turns to his wife and says, "It works. They're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way." I hope you didn't need to make up a story to make your children come on Thanksgiving Day.

Let's read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." The apostle Paul's command that we "give thanks in all circumstances or everything" is beautiful, but is it realistic? Is that possible? If we recover from illness, escape an accident that could have killed us, or buy a bigger and nicer house, of course, it is not difficult for us to give thanks to God. But what if we have been sick for years but have not recovered even though we have sought treatment everywhere, as in the story of Mrs. TBS? What if suddenly we were laid off when two of our children were still in college, so one of them had to stop studying? How can parents express gratitude if their son, on holiday from school in America, returns to Indonesia with his male friend and says, "Dad, Mum, this is my partner?

Giving thanks when we are sick, facing severe family problems, and experiencing enormous life difficulties is certainly not easy! But that is what the apostle Paul commanded us to do. He didn't say, "Don't forget to give than when you are healed or got a job promotion! Before I explain how we can be grateful in all things or circumstances, we must first know that this command is only for Christians who have a personal relationship with God, whose sins have been redeemed by Christ Jesus, and who want to do His will. Note the phrase "this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." So, Paul's advice must be seen as unrealistic and impossible for people who still need to learn Christ and receive the priceless gift of salvation. But for us, God's children, it is possible.

So, how can we be grateful for everything? The answer is short: by FAITH or TRUST in the Triune GOD who loves us!

1. Believe that GOD is almighty and He has control over everything.

Psalm 11:4 - "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them." Our God's throne is in heaven, not Washington DC, Moscow, or other power centers in the world; He is not limited by location or time. He is almighty God! And He watches over us and everyone on earth. He never sleeps; Nothing in our lives happens without His permission. Matthew 10:29-30 – "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

Application: When we experience difficulties or disasters, we may wonder, "Why am I experiencing this? Haven't I tried to obey and do God's will?" We forget that what happens to us is not a coincidence or beyond His knowledge. Remember, God has control over everything, including our lives. So even though what happened was unpleasant and painful, let's still thank the Triune God. We need to learn from the story of the Apostles Paul and Silas when they were in prison in Philippi, where they prayed and praised God (Acts 16).

2. Believe that GOD has a specific purpose for us.

Because GOD has control over everything, if GOD allows something to happen to us, it must be for a specific purpose that is good for us.

A. It could be a blessing in disguise.

When her husband died, Ruth must have been sorrowful. But her love for Naomi, her mother-in-law, and her faith in YHWH made her follow Naomi back to Israel. There, she met a good man, Boaz, who later became her husband. Ruth did not know that even though she was a Moabite, her marriage to Boaz would later give birth to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.