“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
When do you find it easier to give thanks? Or, looking at it from another perspective, when do you find it most difficult to be thankful? In this passage, Paul encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances—whether in good times or bad.
Imagine you’re on your way to an important meeting, but an accident occurs, preventing you from attending. How would you react? I remember a young sister once sharing her experience of being in a car accident. Instead of complaining or wondering, “Why me?” she chose to thank God. Was she out of her mind? Not at all. Through that accident, she realized how close life and death could be. She understood that life was beyond her control, and she saw that although the accident was inconvenient, she was unharmed, and her life was spared. From the depths of her heart, she gave thanks to God.
In his final instructions to the Thessalonian believers, Paul emphasizes a central theme of his letter: living out our faith. What does it mean to truly live out our faith? Paul not only encourages believers to give thanks in all circumstances but also presents a series of challenges (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22): “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances… Do not quench the Spirit… Hold on to what is good; reject every kind of evil.”
How can we give thanks in all circumstances? It’s certainly not easy, especially in difficult situations. If we rely on our own strength to obey these commands, we may feel overwhelmed. However, God has already given us the Holy Spirit. Among all these challenges, the key is: “Do not quench the Spirit.”
If we do not resist (or “quench”) the Holy Spirit’s work—His guidance, help, and promptings—if we are willing to see through His perspective and submit to His leadership in our lives, we will be able to live out our faith. And in every situation, we will be able to give thanks in all circumstances.
Rev. Florence Wong