Giving Thanks in All Things

I Thessalonians 5:18

Thankfulness is easy when life is pleasant but it often feels impossible when life is painful.

Most of us have no trouble being grateful when prayers are answered, when needs are met, and when life goes the way we hoped.

But gratitude becomes far more difficult when life grows confusing, disappointing, or overwhelming.

Our natural response in hardship is not thanksgiving but frustration, fear, or discouragement.

Yet Scripture does not treat gratitude as a suggestion.

Paul gives a clear command: “In every thing give thanks.”

A few years ago, a young Christian couple named Mark and Sarah were driving home from a weekend trip when their car suddenly broke down on a rural highway.

They had no cell service, it was getting dark, and they were miles from the nearest town.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, each feeling the pressure rise.

Money was tight.

The repair would not be cheap.

The situation was frustrating, inconvenient, and honestly a little frightening.

Then Sarah reached into her bag, pulled out a small spiral notebook, and said something that caught Mark off guard.

She said, “Well, this isn’t good, but let’s write down what we can thank God for.”

Mark looked at her like she was crazy.

But Sarah quietly opened the notebook and wrote the first line: “We’re safe.”

Then she said, “Your turn.”

He sighed and then said, “At least we’re together.”

She wrote it down.

A few minutes later she added, “The sky is really beautiful right now.”

He added, “We still have food in the cooler.”

As they kept going, something changed.

Their fear faded.

Their frustration softened.

Their hope lifted.

About twenty minutes later, a farmer pulled up in an old truck, saw their situation, and immediately offered to help.

He towed their car to his barn, gave them a place to stay, fed them supper, and introduced them to a mechanic friend the next morning who fixed the issue for almost nothing.

When they got home, Sarah stuck that page from the notebook on their refrigerator.

It became a quiet reminder for many months to come that gratitude does not remove trouble, but it will invite God’s peace into the middle of the trouble.

Paul knew that same truth.

In fact, the command to “give thanks in everything” sits inside a cluster of rapid-fire commands that shape the Christian life.

“Rejoice evermore.”

“Pray without ceasing.”

“Quench not the Spirit.”

“Prove all things.”

“Hold fast that which is good.”

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Gratitude is not an isolated virtue.

It is part of a Spirit-filled lifestyle that lifts our eyes above our circumstances and places them firmly on Christ.

This truth connects directly with last week’s message from Psalm 103.

David had to lead his heart instead of letting his heart lead him.

Paul now calls us to do the same—to choose gratitude because we trust the One who holds every circumstance in His hands.

I. A Clear Command for Gratitude

To understand gratitude correctly, we must begin where Paul begins—by seeing it as a command from God, a choice of the heart, and a discipline that must be practiced daily.

A. Gratitude Is Required, Not Optional

Paul gives no loopholes and no exceptions.

“In every thing give thanks” is not presented as a suggestion to consider but as a command to obey.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “When joy and prayer are married, their firstborn child is gratitude.”

Psalm 34:1 says,

Psalm 34:1 KJV

1 I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Teaching that God deserves praise regardless of our circumstances.

This means gratitude is not based on what we feel in the moment but on what we know about God’s character.

Life may change, but God’s goodness does not.

A grateful heart begins with the settled conviction that God is worthy of thanks even when life is not easy.

A.W. Pink once wrote, “Faith endures as seeing Him who is invisible,”

He is reminding us that gratitude flows from trust, not from convenience.

That brings us to the second principle.

B. Gratitude Must Be Intentional

We do not drift into thanksgiving naturally.

Left to ourselves, our hearts drift toward worry, discouragement, or complaint.

Job 1:21 shows that trust can lead the heart even in pain, applying by reminding us that gratitude is possible even when understanding is not.

Job 1:21 KJV

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Even in his worst days Job could still choose to bless the name of the Lord!

Consider the story of Matthew Henry, the Bible commentator, who once wrote in his journal after being robbed, “I thank Thee, first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my [money], they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.”

His gratitude did not come from the event but from how he chose to see God in the event.

Gratitude must be intentional because our heart will not choose it on its own.

If we wait for perfect circumstances, we will seldom obey this command.

So then thirdly let’s understand…

C. Gratitude Must Be Immediate

Paul does not say, “Give thanks once the problem is resolved.”

He says, “In every thing give thanks”—right in the middle of the difficulty.

Gratitude cannot be postponed until life feels easier.

It must be practiced in real time.

He commands, “In every thing give thanks.”

Obedience begins now.

The longer we wait to thank God, the more room we give for fear, bitterness, or frustration to fill our hearts.

The moment we choose to thank God, even in confusion, we open the door for His peace to steady us.

Practical Ideas for Living Out This Point:

When frustration rises, pause and whisper, “Lord, thank You that You are with me in this moment.”

Thank someone each day—your spouse, a coworker, a volunteer, a child—to train your heart toward gratitude.

When facing something unpleasant, thank God for one thing He is doing through it, even if it is simply teaching patience or reminding you to pray.

Ok, So we see tht Scripture gives us a clear command—gratitude is required, intentional, and immediate.

But Paul does not stop there.

He also shows us the context where gratitude must take place.

Not just in the easy moments.

Not just in the answered prayers.

But “in all things.”

This leads us to our second truth.

II. A Constant Context for Gratitude

What is the context in which we are to be grateful?

The truth is that Paul does not allow us to limit gratitude to the pleasant, the predictable, or the comfortable.

He writes, “In all things,” not as a burdensome requirement but as an invitation to see the hand of God where we would normally overlook it.

It is meant to accompany us into the moments that feel confusing, heavy, or disappointing.

And it is in those places where gratitude becomes its strongest witness of faith.

A. Gratitude in Suffering

Suffering has a way of narrowing our vision.

Pain makes us focus on what hurts instead of Who helps.

But Paul’s instruction to “give thanks in all things” pushes our eyes upward.

He does not say we must thank God for the tragedy itself.

He tells us to thank God in the middle of it.

Romans 8:28 anchors us by teaching that God weaves all things—even painful things—into His purpose for good.

He reminds us of what we already know…

Romans 8:28 KJV

28 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.

Have you ever heard of Joni Eareckson Tada, she became paralyzed at seventeen after a diving accident.

She later said, “God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.”

Her gratitude did not come from the accident but from knowing God had not abandoned her because of it.

God has used Joni Eareckson Tada’s grateful spirit to encourage believers across the globe.

Instead of allowing bitterness to define her, she chose gratitude, and God transformed her suffering into a ministry that has brought hope, dignity, and the gospel to countless people with disabilities.

Through Joni and Friends, her radio programs, conferences, and worldwide outreach teams, her influence now stretches into more than fifty nations — providing wheelchairs to those in need, training churches, equipping families, and sharing Christ with people who have never heard the gospel.

Her life shows that gratitude doesn’t erase hardship — it invites God to use that hardship for eternal good.

Gratitude in suffering is not pretending the pain is small.

It is believing that God is still big.

And we begin to have…

B. Gratitude in Sovereignty

There are moments in life when nothing makes sense to us but everything is fully known to God.

This is where gratitude becomes a declaration that God is in control even when we are not.

Joseph told his brothers in Genesis 50:20,

Genesis 50:20 KJV

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

God can redeem the very things others intend to harm us.

Our gratitude does not rest on understanding the situation but on trusting the God who governs it.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “When you cannot trace His hand, you must trust His heart.”

We might say, when you can’t see what God is doing, trust in Who God is.

Gratitude in sovereignty means choosing to believe that God is working in places where our eyes see only confusion.

And gratitude helps us see the invisible threads of God’s providence woven into the fabric of our daily lives.

Seeing God’s hand gives us confidence, but there is still a different kind of difficulty where gratitude must be trained—and that is in the slow, grinding struggles of life.

C. Gratitude in Struggle

Some burdens are not dramatic.

They are daily.

The chronic pain.

The ongoing tension in a relationship.

The discouragement of unanswered prayer.

The weariness that creeps in through long seasons.

Yet it is precisely right there where gratitude becomes a spiritual lifeline.

When we choose gratitude in the grind of life, we create space for God’s strength to sustain us.

Hebrews 13:5 declares,

Hebrews 13:5 KJV

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

He is assuring us that God is faithfully present even when the struggle continues.

And often the smallest moments—sunlight through a window, kindness from a friend, strength to get through a day—become the clearest reminders of His faithfulness.

Gratitude in struggle does not remove the burden.

But it keeps the burden from removing our joy.

Practical Ideas for Living Out This Point:

When facing suffering, identify one aspect of God’s character to thank Him for—His presence, His strength, His understanding, or His promises.

When life feels out of control, pray a prayer that begins with “Lord, I trust You with…” and name the specific situation.

When you feel anxious, pause and breathe deeply while whispering, “Thank You, Lord, that You are here with me right now.”

When we learn to give thanks not only when life is easy but also in suffering, sovereignty, and struggle, we discover something profound.

Gratitude is not just a response to circumstances.

It is a revelation of God’s will for our hearts.

III. A Confident Cause for Gratitude

He says, “For this is the will of God.”

These words lift gratitude out of the realm of personal preference and anchor it firmly in the heart of God’s plan for every believer.

And because God desires those very things for His children, He commands gratitude not to restrict us but to bless us.

A. Gratitude Aligns Us with God’s Purpose

Every believer wants to know God’s will.

Yet here God reveals His will clearly: “Give thanks in everything.”

Gratitude aligns us with the heart of God because a thankful spirit sees life through the lens of God’s goodness.

Psalm 100:4 says,

Psalm 100:4 KJV

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

He is reminding us that thanksgiving helps us recall what God has already done.

When we practice gratitude, we place ourselves in agreement with God’s purposes instead of fighting against them.

And the more we thank Him, the more we understand His will.

When our hearts align with God’s purpose, something else begins to happen deep within us.

B. Gratitude Guards Us from Bitterness

Where gratitude grows, bitterness dies.

A thankless heart becomes a fertile ground for resentment, self-pity, and unbelief.

But gratitude uproots bitterness before it takes hold.

Philippians 4:6 KJV

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Paul teaches us to bring our requests “with thanksgiving,” applying by reminding us that prayer without gratitude leads to anxiety, but prayer wrapped in gratitude produces peace.

Corrie ten Boom once said, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

That truth applies by reminding us that gratitude is not a denial of pain but a declaration that God is bigger than pain.

Ingratitude darkens the heart.

Gratitude guards the heart.

It keeps us watchful, humble, and hopeful.

And when bitterness knocks on the door, gratitude answers instead.

A guarded heart becomes a shining heart.

And that leads us to one more outcome of gratitude.

C. Gratitude Gives Us a Testimony

A thankful Christian stands out in a world filled with complaint, fear, and frustration.

Gratitude becomes one of the clearest ways others see the difference Christ makes in us.

Gratitude becomes a testimony because it reveals where our hope lies.

It declares that our confidence is not in a paycheck, or a doctor’s report, or a political outcome, or our own strength, but in the faithfulness of God.

People notice when a believer remains thankful in a crisis.

They listen differently.

They wonder why.

And gratitude becomes a silent sermon pointing others to Christ.

Practical Ideas for Living Out This Point:

When disappointment hits, pause and say, “Lord, guard my heart” before bitterness can take root.

When someone asks how you are doing, include one thing you’re thanking God for as part of your response.

During discouragement, open your Bible to a psalm and underline every expression of gratitude.

When we understand that gratitude aligns us with God’s purpose, guards our hearts from bitterness, and gives us a testimony before a watching world, we see why this is God’s will for us.

But Paul goes further.

He roots this command in the deepest motivation of all — our relationship with Christ Himself.

IV. A Christ-Centered Confidence for Gratitude

Paul roots this command in Christ when he says, “In Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Without Christ, this command would feel impossible.

In Christ, gratitude becomes both possible and joyful.

A. Christ Makes Gratitude Possible

In Christ we find forgiveness that removes guilt, strength that carries weakness, and hope that outlives suffering.

Ephesians 1:3 says God

Ephesians 1:3 KJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

So this tells us that gratitude begins with salvation, not situations.

In Christ we are eternally loved, fully accepted, and forever secure.

A grateful heart flows from remembering what Christ has done for us more than from what life is doing around us.

B. Christ Models Gratitude

Before feeding the five thousand, He lifted His eyes and gave thanks over a small lunch.

Before raising Lazarus, He thanked the Father even while surrounded by grief.

Before going to the cross, He sang a hymn with His disciples, choosing gratitude even as He walked toward suffering.

Jesus showed that gratitude is possible in every season because it rests in the Father, not in the moment.

His gratitude in sorrow teaches us how to trust God in ours.

C. Christ Strengthens Gratitude Within Us

What Christ models, His Spirit empowers.

He does not leave us to force gratitude out of sheer willpower.

The Spirit within us produces the very attitudes Paul commands — rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks.

Galatians 5 reminds us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of perfect circumstances.

As we walk with Christ, gratitude becomes increasingly natural because His Spirit reshapes our perspective.

Practical Ideas for Living Out This Point:

Begin each day by thanking Christ specifically for one blessing of salvation.

When facing pressure, meditate on one truth about who Christ is — Shepherd, Savior, Friend, Sustainer.

Write a short prayer of gratitude for the cross and read it whenever your heart feels unsteady.

When Christ becomes the center of our gratitude, thanksgiving grows not from our circumstances but from our relationship with Him.

Conclusion

Giving thanks in all things does not mean pretending that everything in life feels good.

It means trusting that God is good even when life is not.

Gratitude becomes the lens that brings God’s faithfulness back into focus.

When Mark and Sarah sat in their broken-down car on that dark highway, nothing about their situation was easy.

Nothing had changed except this — they chose to look for God’s hand instead of their fear.

One small step of gratitude softened their frustration, lifted their hearts, and opened their eyes to the God who was already working behind the scenes.

Gratitude did not fix their car.

But gratitude prepared their hearts for the help God was about to send.

And that may be exactly where someone in this room is this morning.

Your “car” may be broken down.

Your heart may be tired.

Your circumstances may not make sense.

But God is not asking you to thank Him for the pain.

He is inviting you to trust Him in the pain.

Maybe your faith has been smothered by disappointment.

The Lord is inviting you to take one small step this morning — the same step Mark and Sarah took — and simply say, “Lord, thank You that You are here with me.”

What is the circumstance you need to thank God in?

Not for — but in.

What burden have you been carrying alone?

What fear have you allowed to direct your heart more than Christ?

God is not asking you to figure everything out.

He is asking you to trust Him.

He is asking you to believe that His will, His strength, and His presence are enough.

If God has spoken to your heart this morning, the invitation is simple.

Lay that situation before Him.

Come to Christ and thank Him for His presence in the storm you are walking through.

Trust Him with the thing you do not understand.

This morning, take the first step toward peace by taking the first step toward gratitude.

Because Christ is present.

Christ is faithful.

And Christ is enough.