1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
How can grieving parents be thankful for losing their child? How can a man give thanks for being terminated from his employment? How can a victim of abuse be thankful for what has happened to them? These are difficult questions but they are the kinds of questions many ask whenever they read this passage of scripture. How do we give, (why should we), give thanks when our circumstances involve a tragedy?
Perhaps it will help us to better understand Paul’s intent if we look more closely at the language he uses – ‘in’ everything and not ‘for’ everything. Those two simple little words make a big difference.
Those who are thankful ‘for’ something are so because they find delight in the circumstances. The enjoyment of the event produces the thanksgiving. In other words – “I am so thankful for how much I have been blessed!” Yet it requires no faith or relationship with God to be thankful for a blessing. Even publicans can do the same. But to be thankful ‘in’ something, especially a tragedy, says that although our circumstances themselves may not be enjoyable, there can be joy in knowing that our heavenly Father is behind the scenes, working in our behalf.
Grieving parents are not be thankful for the sadness they feel with the loss of their child but, they can be thankful that God is the God of all comfort and that He can use them to help bring comfort to others. A man who is terminated from his job may not be thankful for the loss of employment but, he can be thankful that God will continue to supply all of his needs and that this closure may lead him to an even better opportunity. A victim of abuse is never thankful for the evil done to them but, they can be thankful that Christ’s is able to heal the broken-hearted.
Even in tragedy we can be thankful for God’s unfailing love.
The Truth
“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) Notice Paul does not say that everything is good or enjoyable, but that God is able to take all things, both the pleasant and the unpleasant, and to make them work together so that the ultimate end will be good for those who trust Him.
