24Nov
As we prepare for the holiday season as a church body, I want to pause and take a quick moment to observe a passage together in 1 Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
At a glance, those are some pretty short verses all strung together. Fun fact, Chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians actually contains seven of the ten shortest verses in the entire Bible.
Let’s explore why this passage matters today, why these verses are so short, and how they offer real encouragement for those who may find the holiday season difficult.
Paul Keeps Things Simple
When Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, the church in Thessalonica was a young and growing congregation. At the same time, they were experiencing real persecution for their faith and facing uncertainty about the future. The season they were in was unstable, and this church body was looking for direction.
Paul’s advice in chapter 5 is a series of simple, steadying reminders for the church in the midst of their tumultuous circumstances:
Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks.
These are pretty short and sweet pieces of advice because I believe the intention was for them to be understood and held onto easily.
“Rejoice always” doesn’t mean we just ignore pain or pretend everything is going great. Instead, this text invites the church and us today to anchor our joy in something deeper than our circumstances. Verse 5:16 is a reminder to find steady joy in the character of God, even when life feels unsettled. It’s a joy that says, “Even when things are hard, God is still good, and I am still his.”
Our joy comes from Jesus, no matter what my aunt decides to say at the table during Thanksgiving. Kidding… (sorta)
The Power of Prayer and Gratitude
Paul’s next 2 words that complete verse 5:17 is to “pray constantly,” or as some other translations say, “pray without ceasing.” The power of prayer is very real,and the simplicity of this phrase speaks to just how strong it is and the impact it has on our lives.
During the holidays, it’s easy to rush, to stress, or to get swept up in our busy schedules, family plans, and self-made expectations. Remember, though, prayer is not an interruption to our day—it’s the foundation for communicating with the God who goes before us—the great designer of our lives. So many of us pray out of anger or desperation when things are hard, and rejoice when things are great, but my hope for myself and for you is that these simple words remind us to pray even during the moments in the middle. The highs and lows will always fluctuate, but continuing to be in lockstep with Jesus in every moment is an incredible reality of what our faith can look like.
But perhaps the hardest verse to digest for us today, and maybe even the church in Thessalonica at the time, is “give thanks in everything.”
Let’s point out one big thing here: Paul does not write, “for everything,” but instead writes, “in everything.” Why is that?
Here’s the difference—we don’t have to be thankful for pain, sickness, loss, devastation, or heartbreak. That’s not what the takeaway is here. However, when we find ourselves in those seasons, we can still find reasons to thank God—because he is with us, he sustains us, and he is working for our good. We can be thankful for God when we are IN pain, sickness, loss, etc.
Thankfulness and showing gratitude in the worst parts of life is hard. My wife and I can both attest that when our backs have been against the wall, being thankful feels nearly impossible. But by praying and finding moments to be thankful for what God is doing in our lives, even in the smallest of moments, it recenters our hearts, shifts our perspective, and helps us notice God’s faithfulness in places we might overlook.
Even when circumstances are hard, giving thanks to God and showing gratitude means that hope will never be absent.
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