What Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is often misunderstood. When Paul commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances,” what does he mean? To better understand this command, let us try to see it from another perspective.
Firstly, “give thanks in all circumstances” does not mean ignoring or denying difficulties.
Paul is not asking us to pretend that hardships do not exist. The Bible is filled with honest expressions of pain and lament, from Job’s cries of anguish to David’s psalms of lament.
For example, David wrote, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1-2).
In this psalm, David pours out his heart to God, expressing feelings of abandonment and despair. He does not sugarcoat his struggles but brings them openly before God.
Yet, the psalm ends with a declaration of trust: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5). David shows us that lament and gratitude can coexist. Even in his pain, he remembers God’s goodness and salvation.
Being thankful does not mean suppressing emotions or ignoring injustice. Instead, it allows us to acknowledge pain while still trusting God.
Secondly, “give thanks in all circumstances” does not mean being thankful for evil or sin.
Paul is clear: we are to give thanks in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. Evil, suffering, and sin grieve the heart of God.
Our gratitude should not stem from these things but from trusting God’s ability to bring good even out of the worst situations.
Habakkuk 1:13 says, “God does not delight in sin, suffering, or evil.” Thus, Joseph did not thank God for being sold into slavery but later acknowledged how God used it for good (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy, a clear act of sin and betrayal.
Yet, years later, Joseph, now a leader in Egypt, saw how God had used those painful events to save lives during a famine.
Joseph did not thank his brothers for their wrongdoing, but he praised God for redeeming the situation. His gratitude was rooted in God’s sovereignty, not the evil actions of others.
In the tragedies of life, we do not need to thank God for the pain itself. Instead, we can trust that He can bring good from it, even when we cannot yet see how.
Gratitude does not require us to deny our difficulties or celebrate what is evil. Instead, it invites us to bring our struggles to God and trust Him to work through them. | NWI
