From my early childhood, my siblings and I were taught, “In everything give thanks.” But many of us may wonder how we can give thanks in everything when bad times come along, sending us reeling, confused and clueless in how to survive yet another problem of life. When I reached the age of understanding, I saw my parents encounter many problems. Those problems came in many forms, such as shortage of money, work, health issues, house repairs and the issues that appear with the raising of nine children.
So how could they continue to teach us to give thanks in everything? In my mind I couldn’t think of anything to give thanks for, except to be thankful that I didn’t have to solve the problem. Living in the rural South and knowing all the families in the area, I was aware that we weren’t the only ones having problems. They encountered the same ones, and maybe, in some instances they had more. How in the world could they continue to teach, “In everything give thanks?” It was really a mystery, and at times sounded absurd!
As I went through the years of adolescence, to graduating high school and joining the military, I began to encounter problems that were specifically my own. There was no more sitting back to wait for mom and dad to work their magic to solve the problem. Now the problem stared me in the face, seemingly to say, “I’m yours and yours alone!” Life was becoming more complicated by the minute. Each problem seemed to morph itself into something bigger. Maybe problems go through stages — from simple to complicated, and from complicated to catastrophe. Mine seemed to begin at the later. I tried ignoring it, but for some reason they wouldn’t go away, and only became worse. So tell me — how can I give thanks in everything?
Retiring after twenty years in the military, getting married, having children of my own and trying to do things my way, I decided it was time to go back to the Christian faith that my parents had so unwavering tried to get my siblings and I to accept as our own. Also it was to fulfill a vow I had made to God, that if my sons were born without complications, I would make sure they knew of His existence. Fulfilling that vow set me on the path of seeking to really know this God personally, and remembering all the things my parents taught us as children, as well as young adults. Fortunately my wife was having the same thought, so we were in agreement to find a church to attend with our sons.
After finding a church to our liking, I was committed in studying the Bible, attending Bible Study, Sunday school and the regular weekly and Sunday services. I was eventually called into the ministry, and my interest in studying the Bible led me to attend Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia to complete two degrees — Master of divinity and Master in religious studies. Problems continued to come and go, and the same scripture still baffled me. How can I give thanks during the toughest times of my life?
I’ve heard from the more seasoned ministers that you can read a scripture more than once and learn something that you didn’t know previously. It was during a study of mine that I revisited the verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Within myself I cried out to God asking, “Lord, how can I be thankful when it seems everything is against me? Then the revelation hit me so clearly! When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, he was not admonishing them to give thanks “for” everything, but “in” everything give thanks! No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we should always be able to give thanks.
We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, but there was never a day we didn’t have food and clothing. I remembered my father always had a job, and my mother worked when necessary. We were never burdened with medical bills because it always seemed there was a home remedy for every illness, coupled with prayer. There was no house payment because my dad and grandfather built the house with their own hands. We lived in a home that was full of love, shared between each other, and for God. Yes, there was much to be thankful for!
There’s a quote that says, “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” When we focus on our circumstances, the things that we should be thankful for always get lost in the fog. Life begins to overwhelm us, and hope is nowhere to be found. As I learned looking back, the things I was thankful for were many, and outnumbered the bad times I experienced. I didn’t recognize my blessings when I was bogged down in the middle of my problems. During the bad times the Christian is taught to exercise their faith in Jesus Christ, believing in his promises, knowing that he will provide all their needs. Knowing that Christ is always with us in our circumstances, gives us a lot to be thankful for.
• Charles B. Ellerbe is a retired military veteran, assistant professor of religious studies at Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun Campus, and an ordained minister. You can join Charles on his Facebook ministry page, Charles Ellerbe Ministries, and blog, Sheep Without a Shepherd.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.