I recently was talking to someone who was distraught as they tried to discern what God’s will was for their life. Does God want them to choose Option A or Option B? Even if this isn’t your current story and you’re not at a crossroads in your life, we all have been there and have wondered something similar: “What is God’s will for my life?”
Now I didn’t have much good advice for this person on whether Option A or Option B was the way God was directing her. Because, regardless of which option she chose or even if she chose neither, scripture offers us a different answer. In fact 1 Thessalonians 5 gives us one answer that supersedes our choices, actions, and decisions. It gives us an answer that is at the heart of the gospel. We can be confident we can know God’s will for his people.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
What is God’s will for you?
It is to give him thanks! (Funny how this blog is getting published on the week of Thanksgiving. Just kidding, that was on purpose.)
For many though, this week is rough. Rather than being naturally filled with joy and thankfulness, this week brings pain, loneliness, broken relationships, and hopelessness. That suffering is real and can make many feel that Thanksgiving is a day that brings everything but reasons to give thanks.
Yet, the gospel frees us up to not have to have the perfect circumstances in order to give thanks. We can have a burnt turkey, failing health, familial strife, and/or crippling anxiety and still have joy in our hearts, a relationship with Christ, and thanks on our lips. Through the gospel Christians are free to say, “Even if I have nothing, in Christ I have everything. And for that, I give my God thanks.”
As we enter into a week that gives us many opportunities to be grateful, God desires that we move beyond just being happy for the gifts in our lives and to move towards giving him thanks. Thankfulness is greater than gratitude because thankfulness is directed towards someone.
This Thanksgiving week, let me encourage you with three reasons why it is good, right, and God honoring to give him thanks.
Giving thanks reminds us that God is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17). Ultimately every good thing, from mashed potatoes to warm homes, from our team winning the game to a day off of work, are gifts from our God. We too often think too much of ourselves as we think of all the good in our lives, as if we have earned it or manifested it on our own. Rather it is God’s will that we give him thanks, the one responsible for all good in our lives.
Giving thanks is an act of reliance rather than independence. As we pray and give God thanks, we’re telling him and ourselves that we need him. He is the giver of both our physical lives and our eternal lives. Holding back our thanks from God is essentially telling him that we’re good without him, whether we realize it or not. God loves us more than we can ever begin to understand and knows that what is best for us is to be dependently connected to him.
Giving thanks moves us from self-focus (the possessions and gifts I have) to God-focus (he is the better version of everything good in my life). Preoccupation with ourselves is a prison and God helps free us through the practice of giving thanks. All of the good things in our lives ultimately point us to him as the greatest treasure we have.
The Spirit of God lives within us and as we are connected to the vine that is Jesus, spiritual fruit will grow. In fact, joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Through Jesus we can confidently approach our God (Hebrews 4:16), knowing that he will always hear our prayers. So prayer moves from being a chore to now being life-giving and natural, just like taking breaths throughout our day. In those prayers we can give thanks, regardless of our situations and circumstances.
This is not only God’s will for our lives but is also what our heart most deeply desires and longs for⸺to be in Christ Jesus. This truth, that we are loved and secure in Christ, stays true whether this is a fantastic or horrible week for you.
My prayer for us this week, as we hear and see the word Thanksgiving a million times, is that we let that be a reminder to rejoice in our hearts and prayers, giving thanks to our God for all our good gifts, including our greatest gift⸺salvation through his son.
SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR