by Mike Edwards
I have always struggled with the bible verse: Ephesians 5:20 explicitly commands believers to give thanks “always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse emphasizes that gratitude should be a constant practice, acknowledging God’s goodness in all aspects of life. See other passages reinforcing this instruction:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 states, “Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
- 1 Timothy 4:4-5 notes that everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if received with thanksgiving.
- Colossians 3:17 instructs that whatever is done in word or deed should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
I have always rejected these verses because I ain’t thanking God for tragedies such as my brain cancer. I don’t have to assume God is in control of good and EVIL in this life. See Why did God Allow This Tumor In My Brain – Update Of My Brain Cancer Journey I don’t believe for a second God allowed my brain cancer and not telling me the lesson I am supposed to learn from it. Or others about rape, abuse, murder of a love one, etc.
So, I’ve never got in habit in thanking God for everything as if God controls all events in our life, including the bad, as if God is supposedly in total control despite free will. See God Is Not All-Powerful Or In Total Control!
I have changed
I have started mentally saying “thank you God” for the good stuff, even though I know God isn’t in total control. Even silly stuff. As you get older, you don’t want to fall. So, now when I trip but don’t splash, I thank God for that. Working in the yard, I forget something from getting up from the ground the porch deck is above my head, but I miss putting a huge knot on my head. I miss a near car crash, though I know God didn’t stop it. I have a lot of good fortunes in my life, but I will spare you.
End results
It’s not like God and I have drawn closer than already, but I do enjoy the communication and realizing I can be thankful to God for the good stuff, though God isn’t necessarily in control for either good or bad fortunate. So, I will keep thanking God all the good fortunate, and not thinking God causes or allows my misfortunes. My parents didn’t necessarily cause or intend all the blessings I gained from them, but I can still be thankful to my God and earthly parents.
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
Done with Religion 