November 30, 2025
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB) 
Opening the door to my office and turning the light on, my eyes immediately fell upon the heart-shaped plaque hanging on the wall: “In everything give thanks,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. My heart sank. I whispered, “God, this is hard.”
I was returning to work only three weeks after my husband had passed away. Grief still sat heavily on my chest, and my heart felt broken. The world around me felt heavy and blurry, and unsteady. Everything around me seemed unfamiliar, even the office I had walked into thousands of times before.
When I first purchased these Scripture plaques for my office years before, I had no idea that this particular verse would confront me in such a raw, life-altering moment, never imagining how deeply God would use it as a reminder in one of the most painful seasons of my life that gratitude is not tied to circumstances, it’s tied to His character.
The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Thessalonians, a young church facing persecution, suffering, opposition, and deep discouragement, wasn’t telling them they must be thankful for the difficulties they were encountering; instead, he was challenging them to be grateful in any circumstance. The preposition used in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is the Greek en, which is best translated by the English preposition in. He recognized that the secret of contentment isn’t found in circumstances. Rather, there is contentment in realizing it is Christ who strengthens us for whatever we might face.
That morning in my office, God wasn’t asking me to give thanks for the pain. He was teaching me to give thanks in the pain. There is a difference, a holy, life-preserving difference. And that difference is exactly what the Apostle Paul meant in his writing.
Thanksgiving has a way of slowing us down, inviting us to pause, look back, and take inventory of God’s goodness! I remember a preacher once put it this way, “Take a moment to look in your evidence closet and remember all the times God was there and how He was faithful to you in the midst of your pain and difficulties. I can truly say that there has never been a time that God has not come through for me!
But let’s be honest: these are difficult and challenging times. Our world is shifting. Families are facing struggles like never before. Hearts are heavy with concerns, uncertainties, and unanswered questions. And yet here we are, another day of God’s grace. Another reminder that God has kept us. We rejoice because gratitude is not always easy, but it is always powerful. “And as we give thanks today and every day, we also pause to remember those experiencing the quiet ache of separation from loved ones, praying that God’s comforting presence will surround and strengthen them in ways only He can.”
In seasons like this, true gratitude doesn’t ignore the difficulties; it acknowledges them while choosing to focus on God’s faithfulness in the midst of them.
So, Why Can We Still Be Grateful Today?
Because God has kept us through what we thought would break us.
Some storms were fierce. Some nights were long. Yet God sustained us with a strength we didn’t know we had.
Because His mercies are new every single morning.
Even in difficult times, He gives fresh grace, fresh strength, and fresh hope.
Because gratitude shifts our focus from what is happening around us to who is working within us.
Gratitude is spiritual warfare. It silences fear. It anchors the soul. It brings peace where worry once lived.
Because God is still moving, even when life feels uncertain.
He is still opening doors, still healing hearts, still restoring relationships, still providing, still protecting, still leading.
As I look back over this year, I see moments that stretched me, challenged me, and brought me to my knees. But I also see God was faithful in every detail, present in every step, steady in every storm. I’m grateful not just for what He’s done, but for who He has been: my Keeper, my Sustainer, my Comforter, my Peace.
For me, another Thanksgiving means another testimony: “God brought me through.”
And if He brought me this far, He will carry you forward.
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB)
Not for all circumstances ~ but in all circumstances.
We don’t thank God for the hardships, the loss, the conflict, or the chaos around us.
We thank Him despite them, because He has not abandoned us.
Here’s why we can give thanks in difficult times:
- God is still present.
Even when life changes, He does not!
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” Psalm 34:18
- God is still working.
We don’t always see it. But He is always moving.
“All things work together for good…” — Romans 8:28
- Gratitude shifts our focus.
It moves our eyes from the storm to the Savior.
- Gratitude is spiritual warfare.
Darkness loses its power when we thank God for His light.
- Gratitude keeps the heart soft.
Trials may bend us, but gratitude keeps us from breaking.
HEART CHECK: What difficult place is God asking you to trust Him in? When did you last experience God’s presence in your pain? What can you thank God for in this season? Where has His grace carried you when your strength was gone? What difficult area in your life requires you to trust God more deeply? One of my challenges is what I can thank God for in this season of my life, even if it still hurts. Also, where is God asking me to shift from sorrow to surrender?
HEART 
CHALLENGE: This week, I encourage you to choose one difficult area and intentionally thank God in the situation, not because it feels good, but because He is good. Take a moment to thank God for one thing He sustained you through and one person He used to bless your life. Send a word of your gratitude and encouragement that may be the blessing they need. Gratitude doesn’t deny the difficulty; it declares that God is greater than what we face. Another Thanksgiving is not just a holiday; it is a testimony that God has kept us through it all.
A REJOICING 
HEART: A rejoicing heart is a heart that is trusting in motion, not because life is painless, but because God is present. It is a heart that gives thanks not through our own strength. We rejoice because of Christ Jesus, who:
- strengthens us
- sustains us
- comforts us
- empowers us
- carries us
We can thank God in difficult times because Christ holds us through difficult times.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that gives us clear instruction on how to thank You, even in challenging and painful seasons of life. Not because the circumstances feel good, but because You are good. Thank You for Your faithfulness in every season. Thank You for keeping us, covering us, carrying us, and sustaining us. When life feels uncertain, remind us that Your love is unshaken.
Father, as we give thanks, our hearts also remember those facing the quiet ache of separation from loved ones, trusting that God’s comfort meets them where we cannot. Lord, teach our hearts to trust You deeply, to rejoice continually, and to hold onto gratitude even when the path is difficult. Make our hearts steadfast, our faith strong, and our spirits sensitive to Your presence and goodness. Help us to find gratitude in You, not merely in our circumstances. Strengthen our hearts to trust You, empower us to rejoice in You, and anchor us in Your unchanging peace. Even in challenging times, You are worthy of our thanksgiving. Teach us to give You thanks, not because life is easy, but because You are near. We pray all of this in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
REFERENCES: Logos Bible Study, WORDsearch, Life Application Series, Various Study Bibles