In everything [en panti] give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess 5:18).
Some commentators suggest that the Greek words en panti in 1 Thess 5:18 should be always translated “always.” However, that expression means always in only three other NT occurrences.i That is why most translations render en panti as “in everything” (KJV, NKJV, NASB, NET, HCSB, LEB, ISV, DARBY) or “in all circumstances” (NIV, RSV, ESV, CEB) in 1 Thess 5:18.
Paul does not say that we are to give thanks for everything or for all circumstances. If you’ve lost a loved one this year, for example, you are not called to thank God for your loss. But you are to be thankful even when enduring great loss.
To be thankful in all circumstances means that there is no time in the life of the believer when thanklessness is pleasing to God. Thanksgiving for believers should be our experience all day every day.
Sharon, from time to time, will tell me five things she is thankful for and then asks me to share five things I’m thankful for. It helps us to get our perspective right. She doesn’t just do this on Thanksgivings Day. She does this at random times throughout the year. It helps both of us to be thankful 24/7/365.
I recommend you try this as a family this Thanksgiving Day and then randomly throughout the year.
Here are five things I’m thankful for today: 1) the certainty that I have everlasting life that can never be lost; 2) Sharon, my beloved wife of forty-nine years; 3) God’s blessing on GES for thirty-nine years; 4) Zane Hodges’ mentoring me for seven years at DTS and then twenty years after that; and 5) good health for seventy-three years and counting.
Regardless of whether you are abounding or suffering this Thanksgiving, remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil 4:13). Not only can you successfully handle whatever circumstances come your way, but you can also be thankful in the good and the bad times (Phil 4:12).
Keep grace in focus and you’ll be thankful in all circumstances.
