Give Thanks in Everything

1 Thessalonians 5:18 — “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Few commands are as challenging—and liberating—as this one. Paul tells us to give thanks in everything. Not just when life is easy, but in every circumstance. Gratitude is not tied to conditions but to God’s will. It is the posture of a heart anchored in Christ.

We often ask, “What is God’s will for my life?” Here is a clear answer: gratitude. It is God’s will that His people give thanks, no matter the situation. Thanksgiving is not a suggestion but a command, a mark of obedience to the Lord.

But how can we give thanks in hardship? The key is found in Christ Jesus. Gratitude is not based on what we feel but on what we know. We know that God is sovereign, that He works all things for good, and that He is with us in every trial. Gratitude does not deny pain but looks beyond it to God’s purposes.

Gratitude in everything also keeps us from entitlement. Instead of grumbling about what we lack, we give thanks for what God provides. Instead of resenting trials, we thank God for how He uses them to refine us. Gratitude transforms how we interpret life.

For pastors, this verse is vital. Ministry often includes discouragement, criticism, or unseen labor. Yet giving thanks in everything sustains the heart. For the flock, this truth is equally life-giving. Gratitude in daily life turns ordinary moments into worship.

Paul does not say to give thanks for everything but in everything. We may not be thankful for pain itself, but we can thank God in the midst of pain for His presence, His promises, and His plan. Gratitude does not require denying reality; it requires trusting God’s reality.

To live with constant thanksgiving is to live in freedom. It breaks the chains of bitterness and worry. Gratitude lifts our eyes from what is temporary to what is eternal. In everything, give thanks—for this is God’s will for you.