We turn to the book of Acts, where we find the Apostle Paul in a dire situation. He is on an Alexandrian ship caught in a violent wind known as the Euraquilo. These sailors, who were experienced and strong, had exhausted every effort to save themselves. After many days fighting the storm, they were wet, tired, hungry, and suffering from low morale, fearing they would run aground on hidden rocks and be lost to the sea. Yet, in the middle of this terrible situation, where there was no hope, Apostle Paul gave thanks to God.

To a non-believer, this behavior is impossible. How can one give thanks on a sinking ship while facing imminent death? But Christians are called to be distinct. Christians may be known for many things, but one thing we should always be known for is thankfulness. From the earliest days of the church, the world observed Christians being somber or sorrowful, but at the same time also thankful, even at funerals. This is not pretending or showing off, but it is a genuine response of thanksgiving to God who is with us and who has saved us. Christians are thankful for Jesus Christ, who is their Lord and graciously provides eternal life. We have the greatest reason to be thankful in every circumstance, and it is Jesus. But the disappointing reality is that we forget; therefore, we are not thankful at all times.

Thanksgiving is not merely a response to favorable circumstances; it is an act of faith. It is anchored in who God is, not our situation or our emotions. He is Yahweh. No one else is the object of our faith but God. And God is with you.

• God is Sovereign: Everything happens according to God’s will, even the storms in our lives. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, He works all things for the good of those who love Him.
• God is Good: Even when the journey is difficult and seems unfair, God is infinitely wise. As A.W. Pink noted, God’s goodness is behind every difficult situation. He gave us eternal life through His Son (Romans 8:32)—if He did not spare His own Son, what greater evidence of goodness do we need? We have the greatest gift in Jesus. God’s goodness is not sentimental, but moral and faithful.
• God is Faithful: Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”  (Philippians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3). We can depend on Him because He has never failed us in the past, and we know He will be faithful now.

Attributes of Thanksgiving

1. It is a Sacrifice:  Paul had sacrificed his whole life to serve the Lord, and look at where it ended up. He could have pitied himself. Instead, Paul gave thanks to God. His thanksgiving was based on faith, not on his emotions.  Apostle Paul gave thanks as his sacrifice, resisting his feelings and fears. 

2. It is a Hidden Work of God: When Paul gave thanks, the spiritual atmosphere of the ship shifted. The text tells us, “All of them became cheerful and they themselves also took food.” Paul’s private act of thanksgiving became a public blessing, turning the crew’s despair into cheer. Just as King Jehoshaphat saw victory through worship (2 Chronicles 20:21-22), thanksgiving opens the door to God’s blessing, not just for us, but for everyone around us.

3. It is a Privilege: Of the 276 people on that boat, only Paul could truly give thanks because only he knew the Father personally. Christians are not slaves to fear or but they are able to see God’s grace. Christians know God personally. This is a unique privilege available only to the believer. We have access to the throne of grace and the Holy of Holies. Thanksgiving is the means of drawing near to the presence of God.

4. It is a Testimony: Paul gave thanks “in the presence of all.” A Christian thanking God in a crisis is a powerful testimony to the world. Apostle Paul’s act of thanksgiving encouraged everyone else on the boat. This kind of thanksgiving leads to gospel moments, just as Paul and Silas’s praise in prison led the jailer to seek them out, “What must I do to be saved?” The jailer desired the powerful salvation he had witnessed in the Apostle Paul.

5. It is for Small Things: Apostle Paul gave thanks for a simple piece of bread. Often, our prayer lives are poor because we are waiting for massive miracles while ignoring daily mercies. If we learn to be thankful for the small things daily, our spiritual lives will become vibrant and resilient. Jesus was also thankful for the small things

6. Thanksgiving is possible everywhere: Paul was thankful on a sinking and dying ship. This was not a cruise ship. He was thankful regardless of his situation and circumstances. Daniel thanked God in a lion’s den. Moses thanked God in the wilderness. The believer is able to give thanks anywhere. 

How to be thankful when life is painful?

It is not natural to be thankful when we are in pain. How do believers maintain this posture when life falls apart? We do not give thanks for the pain, but in the pain (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Pain may hide God’s goodness from our eyes, but it does not cancel it. We need to be more thoughtful. We not only see the pain but also see God who is working. Satan is always whispering doubts, asking, “Does God care?” We must answer by remembering God’s character and meditating on His attributes. Pain becomes the seed of God’s blessing when we trust Him through it.

• Remember what God has done. The Lord has always been faithful; therefore, He will be faithful again. 
• Thank God for His presence more than His outcomes.  Many Christians have testified in their suffering: “My situation did not change, but God changed me”. 

• Out pray your trials. No matter what, we keep praying, we keep giving thanks, and the Lord will bless you.
• We must anchor our hope in eternity. Even if suffering lasts a lifetime, it is brief in light of eternity and will not follow us into heaven. God is just, and His justice will one day make all things right. Therefore, our hope is in Jesus Christ, who is alive today and is our “Immanuel”—God with us—forever.

“Better than I deserve.” What a response to a typical “How are you?” In light of God’s grace, we are always doing better than we deserve. As Apostle Paul declares, we are who we are by the grace of God. Therefore, Christians have no reason to be downcast. Jesus showed us his might, love, and grace on the cross and in His resurrection. In His salvation, we live on with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not just our duty but our desire to honor Jesus who died for us and gave us life in Him.