As the apostle Paul signs off at the end of his first letter to the Thessalonians, he writes these words, “Rejoice always…, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God….” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Rejoice always? Give thanks in all circumstances? Seems like a tall order.
There are a good many circumstances in which giving thanks seems not only extremely difficult, but even out of place. Like now as we are overwhelmed by a pandemic and economic devastation for millions of our fellow Americans…and fellow inhabitants of all parts of this planet.
How do we give thanks when a job is gone, when the unemployment benefits run out or aren’t enough to pay the rent, let alone buy food and cover the car payment?
How do we rejoice and give thanks when we can’t be with friends and loved ones, when we live in social isolation?
How do we give thanks when political discourse grows bitter and it’s hard to talk with dear friends and loved ones?
How do we give thanks when depression stalks us as the days grow short and the nights long in this darkest time of year?
How do we give thanks when our health goes south when a loved one dies and we sink into the gray fog of grief?
Paul is not being cruel by asking us to do something that runs contrary to our current circumstances. Paul knows that in each and every circumstance, the bad, as well as the good, a compassionate and gracious God, is with us. Paul knows the truth that “in God we live and move and have our being.”
No matter how traumatic or tragic the circumstance, God remains present, accompanies us, holds us even if we don’t feel held. God gives us strength beyond our own strength, courage beyond our own capacity to be brave. God works to bring about a new and life-giving thing even in the midst of old life-robbing things.
Paul knew all of this, knew God to be faithful.
My friends, Tom and Shellie, knew it too.
About eight years ago Tom’s and Shellie’s daughter was in an automobile accident that left her critically injured. Kelsey was left paralyzed from the chest down. At first, she couldn’t even breathe on her own.
Tom and Shellie rushed to Texas where the accident had happened. For months they took turns, one staying with Kelsey while the other returned to work at home in California. It was a traumatic, chaotic time in their lives.
Early on in the process, Tom and Shellie decided that they were going to name, and post on Facebook, five blessings they found in the midst of each day, five things they regarded as gifts from God for which they would give thanks to God. They were going to heed the call to give thanks in all circumstances.
And each day, in the midst of awful circumstances, they named their blessings. It could simply be thanksgiving that Kelsey had breathed on her own for five minutes without the aid of a respirator. Whatever it was, each day they shared their five blessings and gave thanks.
They knew that God was present…and at work in their lives and in the lives of the doctors and nurses and all the people around them. They saw the gifts of God, small and great.
May God give each of us the grace to see God’s gifts and to “Rejoice always…[giving] thanks in all circumstances….”
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Give thanks under all circumstances | Clergy Corner - Woodland Daily Democrat
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