give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.
The loss of a loved one. Financial strain. Broken communication. Failed efforts. These are a few of the circumstances that we can find ourselves in. These are some of the circumstances that God had in mind when He provided us the instruction to “give thanks in all circumstances.”
It’s hard to consider gratitude when life feels as hard as it often does. The Thanksgiving season comes around at the same time every year no matter what is going on in our lives. Seldom does it come around and everything in my life is easy or as I would hope. Yet, there is Thanksgiving, forcing me to sit at a table with others and describe at least one way in which I am thankful.
God asks us to give thanks to Him in all circumstances. This is an important distinction from for all circumstances (as some would wrongly interpret this verse).* No matter the moment, no matter what is going on in our lives on Thanksgiving day, God wills that we give thanks in all circumstances.
How can we do this? Admittedly, it’s not easy, especially if our circumstances involve pain. God wills that we give thanks in all circumstances because it shifts our perspective from our vantage point to His.* In the very least, we can be grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus (which is not a small thing). We can be grateful that though life is hard, He is with us. We can be grateful that everything lasts no longer than a season, so we know that the difficulty will have an end. There is some relief in that thought that I am thankful for.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to see what is before you to be thankful for. Perhaps God wants you to see what is in Him. Maybe God wants you to remember to be grateful even in the good times.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.
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*Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 259–260). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 169–171). InterVarsity Press.