As our Sunday evening Bible study group heads into the final chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we have already encountered one of the more difficult instructions to the church: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Don’t worry… about anything. Not so easy, right? Not in the face of a contentious national election, with more war and destruction erupting around the world, and with ongoing concerns about health, finances, and relationships. Still, Paul seems pretty emphatic, telling the church to pray in “every situation” and to do it with thanksgiving – and he was writing in chains.
We understand that at a certain level. With all the things going on in the world, in our nation, in our community, among the church, within our families, even within our own hearts and minds, we know that we need to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), so that ought to cover all those situations. But, how do we do it with thanksgiving? Some folks will consider Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” – and look for some kind of good that can come out of those bad circumstances, which isn’t a bad thing but is sometimes unsatisfying, especially in the middle of the suffering. It’s hard to give thanks for the outcome of suffering we have yet to endure.
It seems that Paul is encouraging the church to bring their prayer requests to God, remembering what God has already done and giving thanks for it. Paul began this letter with thanksgiving for what God had already done; Paul reminded the church, “All of you share in God’s grace with me” (Philippians 1:7), so they had already received and experienced God’s grace and peace “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 2). Paul’s instructions to bring their requests to God with thanksgiving is a call to faith, depending on the peace God had already provided by his grace. Paul told the early church in Romans 5:1-2:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
This is how we can approach God both in worship and in prayer with thanksgiving.
Maybe it’s splitting a hair that doesn’t need to be split, but it seems that Paul is reminding the church that when we approach God in prayer we’re not merely hoping for a positive outcome for which we can give thanks; rather, we’re approaching God with thanksgiving knowing the outcome we have already experienced by his grace. Because we have put our faith in Christ, we have peace with God, for which we give thanks, so Paul continues in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7). We can approach God with our requests in peaceful thanksgiving by God’s grace through Jesus’ sacrifice and our faith in him.
As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, let us remember the blessings of God giving thanks because of his grace. As we continue living in this sinful world with our own sinful thoughts, words, and actions, let us continue to approach God with peaceful thanksgiving, knowing that we have already been saved by God’s grace through Jesus’ sacrifice and our faith in him.