Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians chapters 4 and 5, writes about how Christians are to live. We are called to live as “children of light,” (Ephesians 5:8). Paul covers such topics as immorality, anger, our language, our relationships, and drunkenness, among others. In our verse for today, he says that we should always give thanks to God for everything.

You and I might look at Paul and say, “Everything?!” He would probably say, “Yes. Everything!” When you think about the implications of that word, you come to realize just how difficult that might be to do. It means we are to give thanks for our blessings such as a roof over our heads, family, clothing, and food. It means we should give thanks for our jobs and our health. We need to give thanks to God for sending His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and rise again on the third day. We should give thanks to God for His Word. We could go on and on with the list of our many, many blessings.

“Everything” doesn’t just include blessings, though. It also includes trials and tests. The book of James says we should rejoice in our various trials (James 1:2). Do you have health challenges? Thank God that you’re still alive. Do you have financial struggles? Thank God for what you do have. Are you facing persecution for your faith? Thank God that you are considered worthy to suffer for Jesus as the apostles did in the book of Acts. Are you missing your spouse or a child who passed away? Thank God for the time you had with them.

We live in a world that is full of trials and hard things. We have a God who loves us unconditionally and who sent His Son to make a way for us to spend forever with Him. We will certainly face difficulties and challenges here on earth, but this world isn’t all there is. We have the promise of an eternity with Jesus in heaven, and that is a reason to give thanks for everything.

By Shawn Cornett, Bible League International staff, Indiana, U.S.