October 19, 2025 Message

The rhythm of life is a constant cycle of seasons, and I am not referring to winter, spring, summer, and fall; neither am I talking about football, basketball, and baseball seasons.  Instead, I am speaking of the various seasons of life, and I am not referring to childhood and adulthood.  Irrespective of our age, we all have seasons of blessing and abundance, when everything seems to be going our way.  This is most likely your favorite season.  We also have seasons of peace and calm, where we feel steady and secure.  This season ranks high on your priority list.  And then, often without warning, we are plunged into the dreadful seasons of trial and struggle, where our faith is tested and our strength is worn thin.  Obviously, this is everyone’s least favorite season.  It is during these difficult times many of us not only ask, “Why?” we also wonder, “How can I possibly be grateful for this?”

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As you know, today is the day we dedicate our Estimate Giving Cards for 2026.  I have chosen a passage of Scripture for our text that preachers, in our country, often use on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  They do this because the Apostle Paul used the now familiar phrase, “. . . be thankful in all circumstances.” [First Thessalonians 5:18, GNT] when writing to the believers in Thessalonica.  The original context of the apostle’ letter was not stewardship, but I think it applies, nonetheless, because the basis of Christian stewardship is gratitude.  Therefore, I want us to delve into one of the most transformative practices of the Christian faith: continual gratitude.

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Our Scripture for today is short, but powerful, as the Apostle Paul directed us, as followers of Jesus, not just to be grateful on special occasions, but also to develop a lifestyle of continual gratitude.  This was not merely a personal suggestion by the apostle, as he clearly stated, “. . . This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.” [First Thessalonians 5:18, GNT]  This is a divine mandate, an invitation to a different way of living.  For many, this command to rejoice insistently, to pray constantly, and to be thankful at all times, in all circumstances, seems impossible.  How can we possibly be grateful in all circumstances?  Let me first point out that this divine directive is not a call to be thankful for every bad thing that happens to us, but rather, it is a dictate to find reasons for thanks in the midst of it all.  Understanding this distinction makes all the difference in how we face struggles.  As we explore this idea, we will see that continual gratitude is a powerful spiritual discipline that changes our perspective, strengthens our faith, enhances our generosity, and deepens our union with God.

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The anchor for our continual gratitude is God’s will.  The foundation of our ability to rejoice insistently, to pray constantly, and to be thankful at all times, in all circumstances is based on God’s unchanging will, not on our feelings or on our circumstances.  God’s will gives us direction for our lives.  When faced with confusion or doubt, our text for today offers a clear path.  If you are unsure what God’s will is for you in a difficult situation, you can always know this: He wants you to give thanks.  As simple as it may sound, this humble act of obedience aligns our heart with God’s, and opens the door for His peace to enter.  God’s will provides perspective.  Continual gratitude forces us to look beyond our immediate trials and remember God’s larger purpose for our lives.  As Christians, we believe that God is continuously working all things for our good [Romans 8:28].  When we cannot see the good in a situation, we can still give thanks as an act of faith, trusting in God’s control and purpose, in His sovereignty.  God’s will is rooted in Jesus.  Our ability to rejoice insistently, to pray constantly, and to be thankful at all times, in all circumstances, is not through our own strength, but through our union with Christ Jesus.  He is our source of our joy and our reason for thanks.  You might recall that the night before His crucifixion, Jesus Himself gave thanks even in the very face of betrayal and death, showing us that it is possible for us to maintain a spirit of gratitude in the most difficult circumstances [First Corinthians 11:23-25].

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​You might further recall that, in the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Him.  “Jesus spoke up, ‘There were ten who were healed; where are the other nine?  Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?’” [Luke 17:17-18, GNT]  Though Luke does not say, the other nine were likely, understandably overjoyed and rushed off to their families and former lives, but the one who returned with gratitude received something more profound than a physical healing—he received a deeper union with his Healer and, therefore, a more lasting blessing.  His faith in Jesus made him whole [Luke 17:19].  Without a doubt, the other nine former lepers experienced a physical blessing, but the one who gave thanks experienced union the Life Giver.

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If continual gratitude is God’s will for our lives, why do we struggle so much with it?  Our human nature presents several obstacles, the first of which is envy and comparison.  In our modern society, social media often creates a world of comparison, where everyone else’s life appears more blessed than our own.  That is not usually not true; nonetheless, when we see what others have, we often feel discontent with what we have.  Envy is a “thief of thankfulness” because it focuses on what we lack, rather than on what God has graciously given us.  In our fallen, sinful nature, there is a negativity bias in our thinking.  Sin has wired our brains to focus on negative experiences, which is why we tend to remember the one rude comment more than the ten compliments.  Overcoming this bias requires intentional, daily effort to train our minds to focus on the good.  A worldly perspective also contributes to our struggle to maintain an attitude of continual gratitude.  While running the rat race of more—more success, more possessions, more influence—we lose sight of the blessing of “enough”.  We can never reach the finish line of the race for more, leaving us constantly wanting and never truly satisfied.

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Continual gratitude is not a feeling we wait for; instead, continual gratitude is a spiritual discipline we practice; it is an intentional choice we make regardless of our circumstances.  Continual gratitude causes us to pray with thanksgiving.  As the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, we should present our requests to God with thanksgiving for what He has given us, instead of complaining about what we do not have.  We should begin our prayers by acknowledging God’s goodness and blessings, even in the midst of our troubles.  This act of praise can bring a peace into our lives that “. . . surpasses all [human] understanding, . . .” [Philippians 4:7, NKJV]  Here is another help: keep a written gratitude journal.  The simple practice of writing down things we are thankful for can be transformative because it serves as a physical reminder of God’s blessings and faithfulness in our lives.  Our gratitude acts like a spiritual magnet, pulling those blessings into our awareness and showing us the abundance God has provided, even when our circumstances are difficult.  Here is one more tip: express gratitude to others.  Expressing thanks to those around us, from loved ones to strangers, not only strengthens relationships, but also reinforces our own posture of gratitude.

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In closing, I want to talk about continual gratitude being the foundation of Christian stewardship.  Stewardship, in its biblical sense, is the responsible and grateful management of all that God has entrusted to us.  This includes not just our money, but also our time, talents, relationships, and even our struggles.  The cornerstone of Christian stewardship is the recognition that everything we have and are belongs to God.  Psalm 24:1 declares, “The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his.” [GNT]  A continually grateful steward recognizes this truth.  Biblical stewardship, then, is not about ownership, but management.  In the Parable of the Talents, recorded in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus illustrated this principle perfectly.  The master entrusted his resources to his servants.  He expected a return on his investment, not because it was rightfully his to take, but because he entrusted it to his servants.  Our lives are the same; we are managing God’s gifts and our thankfulness is an acknowledgment of that gift and our trust in His purpose for it.

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The purpose and goal of our stewardship, whether in abundance or in scarcity, is to glorify God; is that not the point of the story of the widow’s mite [Mark 12:41-44]?  A continually grateful steward, especially one who can give thanks in all circumstances, stands in stark contrast to a grumbling, self-focused world.  This kind of gratitude points directly to our hope in Christ and our trust in God’s goodness, even when things are difficult.  This witness both brings glory to God and is a powerful tool for evangelism.  Moreover, stewardship aligns our hearts with the heart of God.  When we manage our time, talent, and treasure with continual gratitude, we are participating in God’s redemptive work.  We use our gifts to serve others and build up the Church, mirroring God’s own generosity and love.  This practice ultimately helps mold us into the image of Christ, who gave of Himself completely for our sakes.

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So, how do we live as continually grateful stewards?  It begins with a heart of gratitude that recognizes God’s ownership over all things.  It continues with a life of intentional practice, giving thanks, not just when it is easy, but in all circumstances.  And it culminates in a life lived for God’s glory, where our generous and grateful actions point to the one who has given us everything.  Over the coming week, I challenge you to examine your own heart.  In what areas are you grumbling instead of giving thanks?  How can you offer a spirit of gratitude as an act of worship, especially in your most difficult circumstances?  Remember, a life of continual gratitude is not a burden to bear, but a joyful privilege to embrace.  As you respond to God’s generosity in your own life, may you experience the joy that comes from living in alignment with His purpose.