Conference 2026 July 1st-6th

Laurelville Church Center

Mount Pleasant, PA

Register for Conference, Children’s Conference, or YCON and make your reservations for lodging, and meals.

"Jesus and the CGBCI"

In Everything, Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Maybe you have seen the movie, “The Hiding Place.” If not, I recommend it to you. It is about the Ten Boom sisters and their father who were arrested by the Nazis in WW2 for hiding and protecting Jews. All are believers in the Lord Jesus. They were put in prison camps and Corrie was the only one who survived. Corrie, like us, was challenged with giving thanks many times in prison. This is what she wrote: “The move to permanent quarters came the second week in October. We were marched, ten abreast, along the wide cinder avenue...Several times the column halted while numbers were read out--names were never used at Ravensbrück. At last Betsie’s and mine were called...We stepped out of line with a dozen or so others and stared at the long gray front of Barracks 28. “Fleas!”, I cried. “Betsie, the place is swarming with them!” We scrambled across the intervening platforms, heads low to avoid another bump, dropped down to the aisle and hedged our way to a patch of light. “Here! And here another one!”, I wailed. “Betsie, how can we live in such a place!” “Show us. Show us how.” It was said so matter-of-factly, it took me a second to realize she was praying. More and more the distinction between prayer and the rest of life seemed to be vanishing for Betsie. “Corrie!”, she said excitedly. “He’s given us the answer! Before we asked, as He always does! In the Bible this morning. Where was it? Read that part again!” ‘Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” “That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. Give thanks in all circumstances! That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!” I stared at her; then around me at the dark, foul-aired room. The fleas! This was too much. “Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.” “Give thanks in all circumstances”, she quoted. It doesn’t say, “in pleasant circumstances.” Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.’ And so we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.’”

First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything, give thanks.” The verb, “give thanks,” is an imperative verb. It is a command. God commands us to give thanks in every situation. Do you agree with Corrie? Surely, He doesn’t expect us to give thanks for fleas…or head lice…or sickness…or sin, does He? How about you, Brethren? In everything, do you give thanks? It is the will of God for you in Jesus Christ.