No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Just a because.  As Paul closed his first letter to the Thessalonians, he gave a list of what I call rapid-fire exhortations to the church.  The one found in 5:18 is today’s topic, and it’s perhaps the hardest one in the list (along with the one in verse 16).  Here Paul writes, “In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  There’s no “if,” as in “give thanks if things are favorable, if all turns out as you wanted, or if you like where you find yourself.”  There’s no “and.”  It doesn’t say “give thanks, and everything will work out just fine” or “give thanks, and your problems will evaporate.”  Neither is there a “but.”  “Give thanks, but it won’t do any good” or “give thanks, but it really doesn’t matter.”  As I said, there are no ifs, ands, or buts in that verse.  However, there is a reason given, a because.  It’s found in that word “for.”  And that word indicates the reason why we are to give thanks in every circumstance.  It’s simple: “for this is the will of God.”  We give thanks in everything because God wants us to.  Period.  But that’s certainly not a bad thing, because God gives us so much for which we can be grateful, doesn’t He?  In Psalm 40, King David counted his blessings and said “they are more than can be numbered,” and I believe the same is true for you and me if we would really stop and think about it.  Trouble is, we focus more on the problems, the negatives, the pain, and the disappointments (and they are certainly present!) instead of on God.  God is always good.  He is always just.  His will is always best.  He is always there.  And those are not just spiritual-sounding clichés; they are foundational truths that fuel the ability to truly be grateful in every circumstance of life.  And therein lies the key to the Christian life God wants us to have.  Give thanks.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it!