Have Radical Gratitude in All Circumstances

Have Radical Gratitude in All Circumstances

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I read, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

In many cultures around the world, people set aside certain days or seasons for giving thanks.  But God wants me to be intentional about my thankfulness every day. He wants me to develop this spiritual habit, one that is reflected in the life of a radical believer. The more deeply I understand God’s love, the more grateful I'll be.

What does it mean to be radically grateful?

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV). In every circumstance give thanks—because it’s God’s will for my life. That’s radical gratitude.

How can I be thankful even in difficult circumstances? I can thank God in every circumstance because he is in control. He can bring good out of evil. He can turn around the worst mistakes I’ve made. No matter what happens, God isn’t going to stop loving me.

I can find a hundred things to be thankful for in any circumstance, even when the circumstance stinks.

Radical gratitude—being thankful in all circumstances—is God’s will because it creates fellowship. What do I mean by that? Gratitude always builds deeper relationships between myself and others and between myself and God. 

If I want to get closer to someone, start expressing gratitude to that person. To build my small group, don’t just go to our gathering. During the week, contact the people in my group. Say, “I’m grateful for you, and here’s why.” You’ll find that the more grateful I am for my group, the more my group will bond.

Let us “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5 NIV).

In summary, people set aside certain days or seasons for giving thanks.  But God wants me to be intentional about my thankfulness every day. He wants me to develop this spiritual habit, one that is reflected in the life of a radical believer. To be radically grateful, In every circumstance give thanks, because it’s God’s will for my life. How can I be thankful even in difficult circumstances? I can thank God in every circumstance because he is in control. He can bring good out of evil. He can turn around the worst mistakes I’ve made. No matter what happens, God isn’t going to stop loving me. I can find a hundred things to be thankful for in any circumstance, even when the circumstance stinks. Radical gratitude—being thankful in all circumstances—is God’s will because it creates fellowship. Gratitude always builds deeper relationships. To get closer to someone, start expressing gratitude. To build my small group, don’t just go to our gathering, contact the people. Say, “I’m grateful for you, and here’s why.” I should “enter his gates with thanksgiving and with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations”.

My joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with my circumstances or feelings. Obeying three commands, to be joyful, never stop praying, and to be thankful, often go against my natural inclinations. However, when I make a conscious decision to do what God says, I will begin to see people in a new perspective. Doing God's will makes it easier to be joyful and thankful. In addition, Paul wasn't teaching that I should thank God for everything that happens to me, but in everything. Evil does not come from God, so I should not thank him for it. But when evil strikes, I can still be thankful for God's presence and for the good that he will accomplish through distress.