Daily Devo
Grateful in All Circumstances
By: Mae Archila
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Has someone ever told you “Thank you, thank you, thank you", repeatedly? Maybe it happened after you gave someone a special gift. Or maybe you encouraged them with kind words or prayed over them. Or maybe you gave up your spot in a long line to a mom with children. Or maybe it happened when you helped a stranger in need. When a repetitive “thank you" happens, it is usually spontaneous, heartfelt, and sincere.
Studies have shown that feeling thankful has a positive effect on our physical health. It makes sense, because being grateful is a condition of our heart. In some ways, gratitude is "good medicine" for us because it lifts us up spiritually and physically. But this is just one of the reasons why God tells us to be grateful throughout scripture.
A few examples that remind us why we should be grateful to God:
- It is God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- For His ultimate sacrifice (2 Corinthians 9:15).
- For loving us forever and ever (Psalm 136:3).
- For listening to our prayers (Philippians 4:6).
- For everything He has given us (Ephesians 5:20).
- For the opportunity to be in His presence (Psalm 100:4).
- For allowing us to enter His eternal kingdom (Hebrews 12:28).
Gratitude towards God is us showing our appreciation for what is invaluable. Through Christ, God gave meaning to our lives, and He set us on a path of righteousness. Christ redeemed us from the penalty of sin, and that alone is worth an eternal THANK YOU!
Try to view gratitude as a way to worship God. When we tell God thanks, we are praising Him and honoring who He is. We may not always be thankful for life's circumstances, but in our most difficult moments, our hearts must remain thankful to God.
You may have never considered it, but gratitude and forgiveness are remarkably similar. How? Neither of them should be based on our feelings, we must see both as a decision God commands us to make. For example, we can grieve and still be thankful, because we've decided to! We can feel hurt, but we can still be thankful because we've decided to!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
As Christ followers, our proper response to God’s blessings is to always remain thankful to Him. We must appreciate what He has done for us in all circumstances, because our most difficult circumstance can't change God's goodness or His love.
Let's all be sure we are praising God with our "Thanks” from now ‘til eternity!