The Apostle Paul said few things that are harder to live out than being thankful in all circumstances (Eph. 5:20; I Thess. 5:18). Times can be rough. Pain and suffering are widespread. Relationships are bruised or broken. Life goes on when all desire to live has ceased. The best laid plans fall flat on their face. Dreams come crashing down. Helplessness and hopelessness are far more common than either help or hope.
Then Paul rises up before us and says, "In all things give thanks!" We have to ask what world is this guy living in. Is he for real? Does he know what life is all about? Has he had to sacrifice more than a little comfort? What does he know about pain, long term pain? What does he know about broken bones and broken hearts?
We want to point our finger in his face and tell him that he knows nothing about the depth of agony one can experience in this life. We want to tell him that he hasn't experienced the day in and day out struggles we have in this 21st century world. Sure, he can give thanks, but he has no right to expect that from someone who has to live in this day and time.
I see Paul going quiet and rather introspective. Then he quotes a few selections from some of the letters he wrote to the churches he helped start. He might mention 2 Corinthians 11:21-29 or 12:7-10. Maybe he would throw in part of his letter to the Philippians, 4:10-13, to show how he had made it through all the times of sacrifice. He would say that yes, times could be very difficult, dangerous, even life-threatening. Yet even in the worst of times we can and should give thanks.
Paul might tell us that in the midst of tragedy, God can still bring out good (Romans 8:28). Even in the midst of suffering and pain, we can see God's hand at work to make us stronger. Paul would tell us that God is greater than any natural or moral evil that may come upon us. We cannot settle for the short view. A much bigger picture demands our attention. Even in the worst of times, we can give thanks because God is sovereign and can bring something better out of the mess we might be facing.
Perseverance might be seen as an active waiting. God wants us to persevere through the rough times because he has something better waiting for us. We might not experience that something better if we don't hang in there. Heed the lesson of the butterfly escaping from its cocoon. We don't just sit back and wait. We are working with God to prepare ourselves for what he has planned. That's perseverance. That's walking and working by faith. Paul says we are to rejoice in the midst of the struggle, not because we are struggling but because the struggle produces something beautiful that could never be without the pain (Romans 5:1-5).
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in America. This day is special to our country. It is a unique part of our national history. For followers of Jesus Christ like the Apostle Paul, it should be a standard part of our daily existence. Every day should be a day of thanksgiving. It's not easy. Sometimes we have to look hard to find a reason to believe that good is on its way. Sometimes we have to be thankful simply because God is in control and not us.
