In Everything Give Thanks by Pr. Lowell Hargreaves
As we look back over the past year , we have a lot to reflect upon. There have been high points and low points—joys and sorrows. We each have things that we are grateful for, and things that we regret. Yes, 2022 has had its share of ups and downs. I hope that whatever was your experience this past year, that you have grown spiritually, and that your character is more like Christ’s.
Encouragament for the New Year (2023)
There is a little text, sandwiched between two other even smaller texts, that I want you to put into your pocket, and carry with you all through this new year.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
What is that 1st phrase? “In everything give thanks.” Paul could have said, “FOR everything give thanks.” And we should give thanks FOR everything (Eph. 5:20). But here Paul says “IN everything give thanks.”
What is the difference between giving thanks FOR everything, and giving thanks IN everything? Is there a difference? YES! What’s the difference? “FOR everything,” implies the gifts we receive: life, food, family, finances, etc. (the THINGS of life). “IN everything,” implies in all CIRCUMSTANCES of life. The New Living Translation says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
It is easy to be thankful for circumstances, when circumstances are pleasant; when they are according to our will—what we want or like. The fact is, often we don’t even give thanks to God for the benefits and blessings that we receive, right?
You may remember that Jesus once healed 10 lepers of leprosy (Luke 17:11-19). How many came back to say “thank you?” Only one. That tells me that we are generally only thankful for a 1/10 or tithe of the blessings we receive from God. Did God bless you this past year? Then what should you do? “Give thanks!” Give thanks to WHO? TO GOD. FOR everything, and IN everything—in every circumstance.
But now tell me—did you have any trials this past year; any heartaches, setbacks, disappointments? Did you have any circumstances this past year that you DIDN’T LIKE? What does Paul say to do in those circumstances? “Give thanks!” Be thankful in trials? YES! That’s what the Bible says! It is easy to be thankful for the “good” things in life. But God sees that we need some refining, in order to be fitted for heaven.
Isaiah 48:10 – “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver;
I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Have you been in the “furnace” this past year? —the Furnace of affliction? What should you do, when you find yourself in the “furnace of affliction.” Give thanks!
1 Peter 4:12, 13 – “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice [that’s like saying ‘Be thankful’], inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
Here are some quotations worthy of our reflection.
The first one is taken from the book Great Controversy page 623: “The Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life.” Then we have another one from Ministry of Healing page 473: “Often our plans fail that God’s plans for us may succeed.”
Do you want God’s plans for you to succeed? Then what must happen to your plans? They will often fail. And when your plans fail, what should you do? What did Paul say?
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
This leads us to ask: (1) Why should we thank God IN everything? (2) What should we give thanks for?
Let’s begin with the first question,
Reasons to be THANKFUL:
1) Thanksgiving is an expression of TRUST in God
There is nothing unusual about being thankful for the blessings and benefits that we receive from God. That’s expected. But to be thankful when things go wrong; when circumstances are painful; when sorrow comes; when heartaches make us feel like crying—to be thankful at times like that, is an EXPRESSION of TRUST in God. The Bible says in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Not all things are GOOD. But “all things work together for good to them that love God.” Do you love God? Then everything that comes to you is working for your ultimate and eternal good.
“The Lord can bring victory out of that which may seem to us discomfiture and defeat. We are in danger of forgetting God, of looking at the things which are seen, instead of beholding by the eye of faith the things which are unseen. When misfortune or calamity comes, we are ready to charge God with neglect or cruelty. If He sees fit to cut off our usefulness in some line, we mourn, not stopping to think that thus God may be working for our good. We need to learn that chastisement is a part of His great plan and that under the rod of affliction the Christian may sometimes do more for the Master than when engaged in active service.” (Acts of Apostles, p. 481)
“Whatever may be your circumstances, however dark and mysterious may be the ways of Providence, though the path may be through the deep waters, and trials and bereavements may afflict again and again, the assurance still comes, ‘All things work together for good to them that love God’ (Romans 8:28).” (Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p. 261 )
2) Thanksgiving is a window into the spiritual condition of the soul
In other words, our expression of thanksgiving reveals what is in our hearts. Let’s read about the connection between the expression of the lips and the condition of the heart from a biblical perspective.
Matthew 12:34-37 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” When we express thanksgiving IN every circumstance, we are revealing what is in our hearts. Put SOMETHING PRETTY into the windows of your life, that others can smile about. GIVE THANKS!
“We need not keep our own record of trials and difficulties, griefs, and sorrows. All these things are written in the books, and heaven will take care of them. While we are counting up the disagreeable things, many things that are pleasant to reflect upon are passing from memory, such as the merciful kindness of God surrounding us every moment and the love over which angels marvel, that God gave His Son to die for us.” (Ministry of Healing, pp. 487-488)
We are all “accountants.” The question is, what are we “counting?” Are you COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS, or counting your TRIALS, GRIEFS, DIFFICULITIES, & SORROWS?
“If as workers for Christ you feel that you have had greater cares and trials than have fallen to the lot of others, remember that for you there is a peace unknown to those who shun these burdens. There is comfort and joy in the service of Christ.” (Ibid)
Instead of saying “Why me?” when you have problems, you should say, “Why NOT me?” Save the “Why Me” question for your BLESSINGS! “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Having found the reasons as to why we should give thanks IN everything, let us proceed to answer the next question: What should we give thanks for?
7 THINGS to be THANKFUL for during difficult circumstances:
1) That God is with us.
God has promised to all His tried children: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)
2) That God has promised to SUSTAIN us
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)
3) That God is REFINING us
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10)
4) That God will not allow us to be tried above what we are able to bear
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
5) That God’s loves us
“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Hebrews 12:6). See also Revelation 3:19.
6) That all things will work together for our greater good in the end.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
7) That we still have HOPE—there is HOPE for YOU!
A. We have hope in Christ’s soon coming.
This is the blessed hope that we have as God’s people. What a joy that will be when our Saviour we see in His glory coming to take His children into His glorious kingdom. (Titus 2:13)
B. We have the hope of eternal life where there shall be no suffering, sorrow, pain, problems, and NO SIN!
“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” (Hebrews 6:18, 19, Revelation 21:4)
Martin Rinkart
In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1638), a German pastor named Martin Rinkart, is said to have buried five thousand of his parishioners in one year, and average of fifteen a day. His parish was ravaged by war, death, and economic disaster. In the heart of that darkness, with the cries of fear outside his window, he sat down and wrote this table grace (prayer before meals) for his children…
Now thank we all our God (Hymn #559)
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
—Martin Rinkart, c. 1636
Dear friend, may God give you the grace to be thankful in all circumstances as He gave to Martin Rinkart.