In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, God tells us to “pray continually” – how can we pray continually? This does not mean we drop to our knees, close our eyes, and start praying out loud all through the day. It means we maintain an attitude of prayer. Giving thanks to God for who He is can lead to joy in all circumstances.
Verse 18 reminds us that we are to give thanks IN ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. It does not say that we give thanks FOR ALL circumstances. We wouldn’t thank God that a family member got hurt in an accident, or that our best friend was wronged, or that we don’t have food. But we could – and should – thank God that He is with us in those circumstances, and we can believe that Romans 8:28 is true: “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes.”