Faith & Insight: Thanksgiving: God’s will for us

Louis Locke

Louis Locke

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In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1Thesalonians 5:18

I have found that there are scriptures that, at times, are difficult for me to embrace. This is one of them. Basically, in this verse, God is saying that he wants me to be thankful to him in the midst of good times and bad, when my prayers are answered with a “no” as well as with a “yes” and when things don’t work out as I’d like.

It’s easier to be thankful when things in my life are going well, not always so when there are trials and difficulties, yet he says, “in everything give thanks.”

Note the word in this verse, “in” everything give thanks, not “for” everything. We’re not thankful for the bad things that happen, but we can be thankful in the midst of them. We can be thankful that we can turn to God for help, for strength, for peace, for comfort, for wisdom — whatever we need, we can call on Jesus.

As we think about this, we realize that thankfulness should not be conditional on circumstances, but it is an attitude of heart toward God. A heart of thanksgiving helps keep our focus on God and his presence in our lives, not so much on the difficulties.

We need to look past the circumstances and know that God loves us and is always working in our lives for the good… And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

C.S. Lewis wrote: We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good,” because it is good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.

Will you join me in welcoming a new “heart of thanksgiving” this season, an attitude of heart and life which will bring refreshing and thankfulness “in” everything?

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15

I want God’s will. I pray often…

My times are in your hands.

Not my will but yours be done.

Louis J. Locke is founding pastor at Carson City Fountainhead Foursquare Church.