Thanksgiving: The verb

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

At a country church, the Pastor always opened prayer with an expression of gratitude and thanks to God. Then one Sunday, there came a terrible winter storm. There was a foot of snow on the ground and a freezing wind blowing from the north. Due to the horrible conditions, few of the congregation showed up for church. Those that were there were anxious and wondering how the Pastor could be thankful this time. The Pastor approached the pulpit and began his prayer with, “Father God, thank you for this day, and thankfully it is not always like this.”
In the United States we are celebrating Thanksgiving. A time when we look back at the past year with fond memories, remembering to give thanks for the life that we have. It is also a time to look back at the struggles, and to see how we were delivered through those struggles with God’s help.
The pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving, following a harsh winter and raids from the natives. After befriending another tribe, they were taught how to survive the surroundings and the climate. While they struggled, they still found time to thank God for His divine providence.
We need to realize when giving thanks to God, it is not something that we should do as an afterthought. The phrase given here is “in all circumstances.” It does not say, “after the circumstances,” nor does it say, “before the circumstances.” We are to give thanks while we are experiencing the circumstances. Good, bad, or indifferent.
While we find it generally easier to thank God during the good times and the normal times, it is far more difficult to thank Him during our struggles. Yet, it is through our struggles that we grow. We grow stronger spiritually, and we grow closer to God. The Holy Scriptures even tell us to be joyful when we go through trials. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:2,3,12 NIV)
The ability to give thanks in all circumstances was taught to the pilgrims by one of their leaders. William Bradford wrote in his journal, “Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles & miseries therof . . . What could not sustaine them but ye spirite of God & his grace?” (http://www.pilgrimhall.org/bradfordjournalarrival.htm) Bradford is one who wrote from experience. While traveling across the Atlantic on the Mayflower, his wife fell overboard and died. He personally knew of God’s sustaining grace during the times of struggles.
It is customary to look back at all the good times and thank God for all the blessings that we have received. Let us not forget to look back at our trials and thank God for the deliverance the He gave us. It is through our trials that we learn to lean on God and grow in strength. Thanksgiving is more than a holiday family dinner. Thanksgiving is more than a proper noun. Thanksgiving is a verb. It is something that we must do. It is always appropriate to give thanks to God.