Should we give thanks to God even in the face of adversity, suffering and loss? Who can give thanks to God for a life threatening disease, the loss of job, or the sudden death of a loved one? Not many of us. It is easy for us to be joyful in happy situations, but what is so special about that.

As one person has said, "when you get right down to brass tacks, only a few options are available for handling adverse circumstances. We can curse God or curse our luck. We can be angry with the universe. We can indulge in whimpering self-pity." Someone else had said, "human beings are specially prone to three temptations: to whine, to shine, and to recline! Many of us are whiners. Or we can become embittered and cynical. Or we can become defeatist and despairing; we can say, 'Stop the world, I want to get off."

How then are we to take Paul's words, "give thanks in all circumstances". If we are not to handle life's calamities by giving expression to anger, self-pity, bitterness, cynicism, or despair, how are we to respond? Perhaps the key is to make a distinction between giving thanks FOR all things, and giving thanks IN all circumstances. There is a world of difference. Surely Paul does not mean that one can thank God for everything that happens. One cannot be thankful that people starve. One cannot be thankful that many people suffer from the ravages of war and disease and economic oppression. And certainly one cannot be thankful when suffering comes to someone else.

What the Apostle Paul is stating here is something deeply personal. He is suggesting that while believers may not be able to give thanks to God for everything that happens, at least they can give thanks in spite of everything that happens. While we may not be able to praise God FOR everything, we should be able to give thanks IN everything. And why not? This much we do know; no matter how bleak our circumstances may be, we are not forsaken by God! This, in itself, is cause for rejoicing! How much more our witness is, if in the midst of adversity we can give God praise born out of faith in God's unchanging goodness.

It is helpful to consider more closely Paul's ability to be thankful in all circumstances. We discover that there were a variety of things for which he was grateful.

The Apostle Paul was grateful to God for the supreme gift of his life in Christ. In writing to the Corinthians he exclaimed, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." This had to be the driving force of Paul's life: gratitude for the unspeakable gift of God's salvation in and through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Why was Paul willing to endure hardship, persecution, scourging, imprisonment, shipwreck, and even martyrdom? There can be but one answer: gratitude. Then too, Paul was grateful to God for victory even in suffering. To the Corinthians he wrote, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ...." 2 Corinthians 2:14. What is so unique about the Apostle's attitude is that he exhorts his fellow believers to "rejoice always," "on every occasion," "in every set of circumstances." The Apostle both taught and practised the principle of praying unceasingly and of giving thanks in every conceivable circumstance. It is quite possible that few of us achieve this kind of spiritual maturity.

One day, we are told, Johann Tauler of Strasbourg met a peasant. "God give you a good day, my friend," he greeted him. The peasant answered briskly, "I thank God I never have a bad day." Tauler, astonished, kept silence for a time. Then he added, "God give you a happy life, my friend." The peasant replied composedly, "I thank God I am never unhappy." "Never unhappy!" cried Tauler, bewildered. "What do you mean?" "Well," came the response, "when it is fine I thank God, when it rains I thank God, when I have plenty I thank God, when I am hungry I thank God, and whatever pleases Him pleases me, why should I say that I am unhappy when I am not?" Tauler looked upon him with awe, "Who are you?" he asked. "I am a king," said the peasant. "A king?" Tauler gasped. "Where is your kingdom?" The peasant smiled gravely. "In my heart," he whispered softly.

I do not know about you, but I covet this kind of spiritual maturity; in every situation to give God thanks.

In Christ's love,
Floyd McPhee