“There’s my suitcase,” Lynne exclaimed as I watched the number of bags on the carousel slow to a trickle. It had stopped several times and then started back up with a handful of bags. Not encouraging.

We had arrived in Houston just before midnight after 30 hours of flying and flight changes. We were tired and just wanted to get home, hopefully with our luggage. As I stepped in to retrieve Lynne’s suitcase, she saw my bag finally pop up from the deep dark recesses of baggage limbo land. With a sigh of relief and a thankful heart, we headed for the car and home.

Thankfulness. As we headed home, I pondered that attitude. It was easy to be thankful both we and our luggage had arrived together. Would I have been as thankful if it had not arrived? Should I have been thankful if it hadn’t?

We are approaching that time of year when thanksgiving should be front and center for all Americans. Sadly, thankful hearts and minds are in short supply. It is even sadder when we are talking about Christians. We should be the most thankful people in the world. The Apostle Paul told the Thessalonian church to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV).

Several things to note here. First, we are to give thanks “in all circumstances.” The King James Version states, “In everything give thanks.” How are we to understand that? He does not say give thanks for everything but to give thanks in every circumstance. I’m a glass-half-full guy but I can honestly say I wasn’t thankful for my prostate cancer, or for Lynne’s breast cancer diagnosis, or for breaking the front headlight on my car. Those are life challenges where I have an opportunity to trust God at ever-deepening levels. I can, however, be thankful in those circumstances because I have the promises of God to comfort and encourage me.

Let me share just a few of those promises. I am told to “be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). The author of Hebrews was quoting Moses speaking to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6-8, promises that have passed to us as the adopted children of God. God is always with me.

I have the promise that “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Greek word translated “temptation” is peirasmos, defined as “a trying, trial” (Young’s Concordance). The Greek word translated “tempted” is peirazo, defined as “to try, prove” (Young’s).

Difficult times will cause us to flee to the feet of King Jesus for strength and courage. King Jesus is seated on the Throne. “Let us then with confidence [‘boldly,’ KJV] draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). I can trust God to help me persevere in any difficult situation I find myself.

The second point our Thessalonian passage makes is, “This [thanksgiving] is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” No parent is happy with an ungrateful child. God’s motive for wanting thankful children is because it is for our spiritual well-being. Ungrateful Christians are crabby and joyless. Thankful Christians have joy in the midst of difficult circumstances. Why? Because they adhere to Paul’s exhortation: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

This Thanksgiving season, let us be Christians who “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” for us. Let us give thanks!

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!