Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Has anyone ever misquoted scripture to you? Perhaps you were the one who passed along something as scripture that wasn’t in the Bible, such as:

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” John Wesley

“Money is the root of all evil.” (“For the love of money is the root of all evil…” 1 Timothy 6:10)

“This too shall pass.” Confucious

First Thessalonians 5:18 is often misquoted as follows: “Give thanks for all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ.” You may wonder what the big deal is about changing one tiny word. In fact, you may have missed which word was changed. Notice that the verse correctly reads “Give thanks in all circumstances,” not for all circumstances.

What difference does it make?

Imagine that you have just lost a child to leukemia. Thanking God for this circumstance might sound like this: “Thank you, Father, for leukemia. I’m so grateful that my child died of it.” Thanking God in this circumstance might sound like this: “My heart is broken, God. I don’t understand why this happened, but I ask you to use this to draw me closer to your side. May others see you in my life as I allow you to lead me through this valley of the shadow of death.”

The first response could actually result in putting a wedge of resentment and a root of bitterness into someone’s heart. We must be careful to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.

During this season of thanksgiving, let’s think about a few ways to be thankful in all circumstances, even those that are most difficult…especially those that are most difficult.

1. Do you have to work on Thanksgiving? If you can’t be thankful for your job, be thankful that God is holding you in the palm of His hand, and He never takes a day off.
2. Is extra time with family causing extra stress? If you can’t be thankful for your loved ones, be thankful that you have space between you and them during the other 51 weeks of the year.
3. Are you concerned about financial matters during the holidays? If you can’t be thankful for what you have, be thankful for that from which the Lord has shielded you.
4. Has someone betrayed your trust? If you can’t be thankful for your friend, be thankful for the One who will never betray us—Jesus.
5. Have you overcommitted during this season of gatherings and opportunities to serve? If you can’t be thankful for all of the noise and confusion, be thankful for those rare quiet moments in between.

Won’t you please pray with me now?

Dear God, I love you so much and praise you for who You are. Thank you for holding me close today and during the other 364 days of the year. Thank you for space between loved ones and for all that you’ve protected me from this day, this week, this month and this year. Thank you for my good and loyal friend and brother, Jesus, and for your comforting Holy Spirit. Thank you for moments of serenity amidst the confusion. Help me to be kind and patient and forgive me when I’m not. In Jesus’ name, Amen.