1Th. 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Eph. 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Rom. 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Rev. 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the midst of these things.”
Rev. 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
The Revelation passage, and the familiar Romans passage make it clear that even though God doesn’t cause everything in this fallen world, everything serves His cause. Even in chaos and darkness He remains on a throne that is high and lifted up from which He rules and declares “what must take place.” I don’t fully understand how man can have a free will and yet God be totally sovereign in manifesting His purposes, and goodness, but both are true. By the way, I convinced nobody else understands it either. All I know, and I rest on this truth, is that He is BIG, and He is GOOD. Thess. 5 says we we are to give thanks “in all everything,” for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. If you ever wondered what God’s will for you is, you add this to the answer. The Eph. 5 passage is even more fascinating for it says to “give thanks FOR all things.” It’s one thing to thank God “IN” all things, knowing He is working it all out for my good and His glory, but to thank Him “FOR” all things seems a bit of a stretch. Think of it this way, if the thing, even though a bad thing from the hand of the enemy, results in you being conformed to the image of Christ, which carries an eternal weight of glory, both now and in the age to come, then you can be grateful for that thing. You see the One who sits on the throne and declares “what must take place,” is so good and so brilliant that He steals, kills, and destroys the enemies plans, using it all to make us to be Christlike in character, and as Overcomers. The Gift of battle is one of His exotic gifts. Remember, it’s not our comprehension that gives birth to a thankful heart, but it’s our confidence in Him who rules high and lifted up beyond human understanding. Let’s GIVE THANKS.