“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Near the end of his first letter to the church of Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul issued an exhortation that at once seems inviting and impossible. He writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

This exhortation seems inviting because it calls us into an ideal and fruitful way of life, and it is a fitting response to all that God accomplished for us and granted to us in Christ. However, it also seems impossible because the standard is so high and our tendencies are so contrary to it. Indeed, can you think of even one day in which you have literally rejoiced always, prayed without ceasing, and given thanks in all circumstances? Perhaps I am blind to the grace of God operating in my life, but I cannot think of a day in which I have perfectly reached this standard in more than thirty years of walking with Christ.

Yet, perceived impossibilities aside, this way of life is the will of God in Christ Jesus for His people. Therefore, in this article we will briefly consider (1) the meaning of the terms rejoice, pray, and give thanks, (2) the nature of what we are called to rejoice in, pray about, and give thanks for, (3) the high standard God has set for each of these activities, and (4) some practical ways we can make progress in this way of life for the glory of God, the nourishment of our souls, and the blessing of others.

Rejoice Always

Biblically speaking, to rejoice is to inwardly appreciate God for His person, words, and works, and to outwardly praise Him for the same. Since His eternal purposes and plans come to crescendo and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, we can say that to rejoice is to personally and corporately exalt God for the gospel. As Paul said to the Thessalonians, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God [about Christ], which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). So, when he later exhorted them to “rejoice always,” he was primarily encouraging them to exult in the gospel which they had received.

When our rejoicing is rooted in the gospel, it does not ebb and flow with the tides of our circumstances, rather, it persists and intensifies even in times of difficulty and persecution. This is why Paul and his companions gladly preached the gospel to the Thessalonians in the face of persecution, and the Thessalonians gladly received it in the midst of much affliction (1 Thessalonians 1:6–7, 2:2). Further, James applies this basic principle to all of life’s struggles when he encourages his readers, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4).

This is the biblical vision of rejoicing, to personally and corporately appreciate and praise God for the gospel, no matter our present circumstances. But having said that, the question remains, how can we “rejoice always,” that is, “at all times”?

The primary answer is this, we will learn to rejoice in God as He completes His work in us. The more we progress in sanctification, the more we will grow in appreciation and praise for God. The more we gain eyes to see what He has accomplished for us and granted to us in Christ, the more we will gain mouths to express our affections to Him. The more we watch Him work in our lives, through a variety of circumstances, the more we will grow in the hope that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

So, while we may never attain God’s standard here on the earth, we will keep moving in this direction by grace through faith, until the day we see Jesus face to face and rejoice in Him with the angels for all eternity. In light of this destiny, it is best for us to think less about the standard itself and more about the God who has revealed His glory through Jesus Christ. For if we will focus on Him, we will indeed learn to rejoice always.

Pray Without Ceasing

The second part of Paul’s exhortation is to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). To pray is to talk with God, and to intercede is to talk with God about others. We tend to take this privilege for granted, but we will never understand the lengths to which God went to make access into His presence possible for us, and to make our prayers and intercessions pleasing to Himself. Through the blood of Jesus and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, God the Father has made a way for us to come into His presence at any time and from any place to talk about anything (Ephesians 2:17–18).

Having opened up the way to His throne of grace, God not only invites, but encourages us to come to Him with all of our cares, concerns, and anxieties (1 Peter 5:6–7, Philippians 4:5–7). God’s desire is that we would share all things with Him, who is able to do all things. Of course, it is not that He is unaware of the state of our hearts or the particulars of our lives, but it is that He wants us to enter deep into the joy of fellowship with Him by sharing all things with Him.

In order to make our prayers and intercessions most pleasing to Him and effective in the world, God counsels us to pray according to His will, as revealed in His Word. As Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:7–8). When our minds are saturated with the words of God and our hearts delight in the wisdom of God, we will learn to pray according to the will of God so that God is pleased to answer our prayers. As we grow in bearing fruit through conversation with God, we rejoice more in the fellowship we have with Him than the answers He grants to us. For the believing soul, answers to prayer are confirmation that we have come to know God through Jesus Christ.

One of the profound secrets of living a life of prayer and intercession is that, as we grow in it, we slowly transform into the image of Jesus. “He always lives to make intercession” for those who draw near to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). He sanctifies His people through His intercessions and transforms us by teaching us His way of life. As we learn His way, we enter into His joy and so have all the more reason to rejoice always and pray without ceasing.

How then are we to “pray without ceasing”? If we envision prayer only as an activity for which we must set aside all other things, the call is impossible. However, if we envision prayer as a conversational way of life with God, whereby we maintain and nourish our conscious communion with Him, then the call is both possible and inviting. God wants us to talk to Him at all times, about all things.

By the grace of God in Christ, we can grow toward the day when this conversational way of life with God characterizes our lives. We can grow toward the day when we consciously commune with Him even in silence, when our fellowship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the main thing in everything we think, feel, say, or do. This way of life is possible by the power and grace of our Heavenly Intercessor, and it is the destiny of all who know Him and enjoy fellowship with Him.

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

The final part of Paul’s exhortation is to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), which is probably better translated “give thanks in all things.” To give thanks means to offer “good graces” to God, to bless His name, to express gratitude for His person, words, and works. As we learn to rejoice in the gospel and commune with God through prayer, it is fitting that we also learn to thank and bless the name of Him who has forgiven our sins, reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and begun the long but certain process of transforming us into His image.

What does it mean to “give thanks in all things”? Notice that Paul did not instruct us to give thanks for all things. Some things are inherently evil, and some circumstances, while under the sovereign control of God, are not in accordance with His perfect will. Therefore, we are not called to give thanks for all things in themselves, but to give thanks to God in all things, whatever the particulars.

We give thanks in all things because we know that God is at work in all things. The cross of Christ is the greatest demonstration that God is able and willing to use even the greatest evil to bring about the greatest good. Since we are sure that God will exalt Himself and bless His people through good and evil, victory and defeat, triumph and tragedy, we learn the discipline and joy of rendering to Him the thanks that are always due His name.

This Is the Will of God in Christ Jesus

Paul concludes his three part exhortation by teaching that this way of life “is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Our Father not only commends these things to us, He deeply desires them for us. This way of life will become our way of life as we grow in Christ, not because of what we determine to do for God, but because of what He has purposed to do in us. The day is coming when we will be happily consumed with God, rejoicing in Him always, praying at all times, and giving thanks in all things as a natural part of our union with Him.

Since this is what our Father wants, let us cooperate with His work and build daily habits that nurture His desires. Let us spend time every morning meditating on His Word, sharing our hearts with Him, and asking for grace to rejoice, pray, and give thanks throughout the day. Then, by His grace and power, let us appreciate Him, praise Him, call upon Him, intercede before Him, and give thanks to Him in and through everything we experience and endure. As we take our rest at night, let us express gratitude for His mercy and faithfulness. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High, to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night” (Psalm 92:1–2).

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, he will surely do it.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24