Being thankful is not optional for us. Ephesians 5:20 says, “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We might default to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says “give thanks in all circumstances . . .” That one might seem easier than the instruction in Ephesians 5 which says we should be giving thanks for everything.
I submit that giving thanks for everything is impossible without faith. How can someone thank God for a car crash without faith? Or how about a nose bleed, the stomach bug in your daughter, or your parents’ marital problems? Faith is necessary to thank God in these circumstances because faith trusts that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28b).
Thanking God for trials is like throwing a live hand grenade into the bunker of the demons who are attacking you. It is an expression of faith. It shows that in spite of what has just happened, we believe the promises of God that the trial is not the final answer and that the trials are going to be used by God for our good.
Be thankful always. Our God is working for our good always.
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