1 Thessalonians 5:12-22: a reflection

12But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 14We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all. 15See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all. 16Always rejoice. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. 19Don’t quench the Spirit. 20Don’t despise prophecies. 21Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

Among the many brief exhortations Paul packs into these verses, three stand together as the shape of a life lived toward God: Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. Notice especially the last: give thanks in everything. Not for everything alike, but in every circumstance, thanksgiving is to be present; and this, Paul says, is God's will for us. Gratitude is to run through all our circumstances, even the hard ones.

Notice that thanksgiving is to be present in every circumstance, and that this is God's will. Paul does not say give thanks only when things go well; he says in everything give thanks, in every circumstance, hard or easy. There is always, even in the hardest circumstance, something to give thanks for, some good, some mercy, some hope; and God's will is that we find it and give thanks. Gratitude is not to be reserved for good times, but to run through all our circumstances, for God is at work and good in all of them.

That call to give thanks in everything is worth taking to heart, for we readily give thanks when things go well, but forget or refuse to in hard times. When circumstances are difficult, gratitude can seem impossible; we see only what is wrong. But Paul says to give thanks in everything, in every circumstance, for this is God's will; there is always something to be thankful for, even in the hard. When your circumstances are difficult, do not abandon thanksgiving, seeing only what is wrong; look for what there still is to give thanks for, some mercy, some good, some hope, and give thanks even there, as Paul urges. Cultivate a gratitude that runs through all your circumstances, giving thanks in everything, not only when things go well; for this is God's will for you, and there is, even in the hardest circumstance, something for which to give thanks to the God who is good and at work in all things.

Lord, among the many brief exhortations Paul packs into these verses, three stand together as the shape of a life lived toward you: always rejoice; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. Show me especially the last: give thanks in everything. Not for everything alike, but in every circumstance, thanksgiving is to be present; and this is your will for me. Gratitude is to run through all my circumstances, even the hard ones. Show me that thanksgiving is to be present in every circumstance, and that this is your will. Paul does not say give thanks only when things go well; he says in everything give thanks, hard or easy. There is always, even in the hardest circumstance, something to give thanks for, some good, some mercy, some hope; and your will is that I find it and give thanks. Take that call to my heart, for I readily give thanks when things go well, but forget or refuse to in hard times. When circumstances are difficult, gratitude can seem impossible; I see only what is wrong. But you say to give thanks in everything, for this is your will. When my circumstances are difficult, keep me from abandoning thanksgiving, seeing only what is wrong; help me look for what there still is to give thanks for, and give thanks even there. Help me cultivate a gratitude that runs through all my circumstances, Lord, giving thanks in everything, not only when things go well, for this is your will for me.