“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”—1 Thessalonians 5:18.

I saw this verse put to the test recently. My wife and I were worshiping with some friends at the North American Christian Convention in Cincinnati earlier this month. We were singing a song that included the line “How great is our God!” As we were singing, I couldn’t help but look around the room and notice the other worshipers. I noticed that people whom I knew were facing, or had faced, formidable adversity in their lives were singing about how great their God is. And they seemed to be sincere.

A lady to my left was wearing a covering on her head to hide the effects of the chemotherapy treatments she was taking…again. A youth minister to my right had just told me that his two-year-old daughter was due to have another heart surgery in a few weeks. A preacher across the way had lost a beautiful young daughter in a traffic accident. All of these individuals were singing from the heart about the greatness of their God. It was a moving worship experience.

So then, it’s true. It’s been proven. It can be done. We can indeed give thanks in all circumstances. Let’s try it today.