Let's read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
The phrase “in all circumstances or in everything” means that when we are sick, face difficulties, fail, or lose someone we love, we are told to give thanks. Oh, really? Many people view this verse as unrealistic and even annoying advice. Imagine a mother who has just received news that her little daughter has leukemia or a malignant blood cancer. Then we say to her: “Give thanks in everything.” Or a father who has just lost his job, while his wife is unemployed and his children are still small. Then we say to him, “Give thanks in everything.” Or someone who has just lost someone they loved very much, especially being murdered, as experienced by Christians in Nigeria, Yemen, and Erika Kirk. Then we advise them: “Don't forget to remain grateful in facing your situation. Because that is what God wants!” How do you think their reaction would be?
Of course, they won't like it, and they'll even get angry with us, considering us heartless. They might say, "How dare you say that! It's cheap talk! You're not in my position!" So, why did the Apostle Paul give this advice to the Thessalonians? Knowing that the Thessalonians were suffering great sickness and suffering because of their new faith, Paul urged them to give thanks in such circumstances. Did Paul not care about the suffering of others? Or was he naive or living in an ivory tower, thus oblivious to the realities of life? Apparently not!
To the Corinthians, Paul recounted the hardships and suffering he had experienced. For example, in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, he recounts: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”
So, Paul himself also experienced various sufferings, and he was even almost killed several times. But Paul didn't complain nor was disappointed with God.
In Acts 16:25, Luke tells us that after Paul and Silas were repeatedly beaten and thrown into prison for preaching the Gospel in Philippi, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." They still gave thanks to God even though Paul actually had reason to complain because he went to Philippi because of God's guidance, which he received through a vision. If so, Paul has put into practice what he advises us to give thanks in all circumstances. The question is, why does God want us to be grateful in everything? There are three main reasons:
First, because He is with us always. As we have learned from our sermons and Bible study, being a child of God or a disciple of Christ does not free us from problems. Like people who do not believe in God, we also still experience illness, whether mild or serious illness, such as stroke, cancer, etc. We can experience accidents, failures, be deceived by people, and various other problems. However, we can be grateful in such circumstances because we are not alone in facing them. The Lord Jesus is always with us. So we can say, "Thank you, Lord. You are with me in facing this difficulty or suffering." And we can cry out for His strength and help. Many of us are allowed to experience great pain or hardship. Yet, we are grateful that God has strengthened and helped us.
Second, because everything God allows to happen in our lives has meaning or purpose. We believe that God is in control of our lives. Everything that happens in our lives is under His control. Therefore, nothing in our lives happens by chance or without His knowledge. This is especially true if we continually ask for His guidance.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul says: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Paul saw that the suffering he experienced had a purpose: to experience God's comfort. And through this experience, he could strengthen and comfort those in various kinds of suffering. That's why he continued to praise God and give thanks to Him.
While a doctor doesn't necessarily have to be sick before he can help someone who is sick, you will have a profound influence in strengthening and comforting others if you have experienced similar difficulties. During one of my ministry sessions in Indonesia, a woman testified about the various difficulties and suffering she experienced due to her malignant cancer. Praise God, this woman survives, and God gives her a vision to establish a ministry called the "Indonesia Christian Cancer Community," to strengthen hundreds of God's children in Indonesia suffering from cancer.
I have also ministered to some cancer patients. But this woman's ministry to cancer patients is more powerful than mine. Why? Because she has experienced it and received comfort and help from God.
Remember, brothers and sisters, the difficulties and suffering you experience are not in vain but have meaning and purpose. That's why let us learn to give thanks in all things. After that, we ask God what the meaning or purpose is of the problems and suffering He allows us to experience. The apostle Paul also always sought the meaning of his suffering.
In 2 Corinthians 1, verses 8-9, for example, he expressed how heavy the burden of suffering he endured in Asia Minor was, like someone sentenced to death. Yet he was grateful for it. Why? Paul said, so that "we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."
In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, he also recounts how God did not grant his request to remove a thorn in his flesh, likely a serious eye problem that was deeply troubling him. However, he was not disappointed when he had to endure this suffering because he knew that God allowed him to experience it so that he would not become arrogant and rely on his own strength. Instead, he would always depend on God.
The third reason is that God works in all things for our good. In his letter to the church in Romans 8:28, the Apostle Paul said: "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, to those who are called according to his purpose." Sometimes our enemy, the devil, wants to harass and even attack us through his evil followers, as happened to Charlie Kirk.
At the age of 31, he was murdered. For Charlie, right now, he is with the Lord Jesus, whom he had believed in and served throughout his life. But for his wife, Erika, and his two young children, his tragic passing was undoubtedly very hard. Her three-year-old daughter often asked her mother: “Where’s Daddy? When’s Daddy coming home?”
But something beautiful happened to her wife, Erika. She declared, as Jesus taught, that she forgave the man who killed her husband. Then, with unwavering faith, she said,
“Our world is filled with evil. But our God is so good. So incredibly good. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Already, I have seen the worldwide outpouring of love for my husband. I’ve heard the testimonies from people my husband inspired to get married. To start families. To seek out a relationship with God—the most important, most important one of all ... We saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their entire lives.”
The enemy may want to bring us down and destroy our lives. But God can turn all that for our good and use what happens to us as a means to build and strengthen others. Nine years ago, my daughter-in-law, Grace, was in a near-death accident. As a result, she has experienced various health problems. The first six years were undoubtedly very difficult for both Grace and Ivan. However, God's grace has enabled them to face all these challenges. As we discussed today, their suffering had meaning, both for themselves and for others. God used their suffering to grow in maturity and to strengthen others.
Let us give thanks in all things. Happy Thanksgiving!
