We must thank & glorify God for all things!

We must thank & glorify God for all things!
(Written by Bishop Nikiforos Theotokis)
***This supplements the other videos “The Holy Fathers concerning Thanksgiving (towards God)” [ • The Holy Fathers conce... ] and “Praise & Doxology” [ • Praise & Doxology ]
The divinely inspired Apostle Paul teaches us to thank God in all instances: "in everything give thanks.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
That is, in every situation, whether good or bad, health or illnesses, prosperity or death, we must express our gratitude to the Lord.
But how, you may ask, can I be grateful to God when I am plagued by a severe illness, or when I am afflicted with devastating misfortune? When I am healthy, when things go well, and when I receive His help, I have every reason to be grateful and to thank God. However, when I suffer, when I am chastised and tormented, where does gratitude fit in?
The teaching of the Apostle, "in everything give thanks," seems unreasonable and extremely difficult.
You are mistaken! God's discipline is a blessing in itself. When we suffer, we think of God: "O Lord, in times of sorrow we remembered You.” (Isaiah 26:16)
This discipline opens man's ears and prevents him from disobeying:
"The Lord's instruction opens my ears, and I am not disobedient nor do I talk back.” (Isaiah 50:5)
This is what consoles and encourages sinful people to repent: "Your rod and Your staff, they have comforted me.” (Psalm 23:4)
This is what reveals that God loves the righteous, but that He also accepts the repentance of sinners: "for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son He receives.” (Proverbs 3:12)
God's disciplinary measures serve as instruments, means, and ways through which God firmly establishes the righteous in virtue while calling sinners to repentance.
Why should I thank God when He allows me to suffer?
He cleanses your soul with sorrow; He heals your wounds with lashes; in return for this temporary discipline He gives you the Kingdom of Heaven.
You are benefitting equally both when He gives you wealth and when He allows you to be poor; both when He raises you up and when He brings you down; both when He sustains you in health and when you are scourged by illness. Always and everywhere He pours upon you His Divine blessings. Hence, it is proper and appropriate for you to thank Him always for all things.
Many righteous and holy men verified that this is not a difficult thing to do. More than anyone else, Job demonstrated this. He showed his gratitude to God not only when he enjoyed prosperity (by offering sacrifices to the Lord every day), but even when he experienced dreadful adversities. When he lost all his children, when he lost all his possessions and became poor, when he became sick, when his body was filled with wounds and he was experiencing excruciating pain, he cried out in a loud voice: "the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. As it seemed good to the Lord, so also it came to pass.” (Job 1:21)
During such unexpected, repeated, and successive sorrows and tribulations, he thanked, praised, and glorified God by exclaiming: "Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
He was equally thankful to God both when he was the father of many children and when he was left childless; both when he was wealthy and when he became a pauper; both when he was perfectly healthy and when he became ill; both when he was enjoying happiness and when he was beset by sorrow; both when he lived in prosperity and when he endured misfortune.
St. John Chrysostom would repeatedly voice the following noteworthy phrase: "Glory to God for all things! I will never cease repeating this always for all the things that happen to me."
“God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves.”
(St. John Chrysostom)
St. Gregory Palamas, echoing the divine Chrysostom, would express the same thought with his grace-filled tongue in the following manner:
"Let us be grateful for everything, no matter what happens-for this is gratitude! If you are thankful when everything goes smoothly, it is no great accomplishment because the events themselves prompt you to do so. If, however, we thank God when we find ourselves amidst the depth of difficulties, this is marvellous, indeed!”
"There is nothing more holy than the tongue that thanks God during difficult times. It is in no way inferior to the tongue of a martyr, and such a person will be crowned just like a martyr. For he too has an executioner present who pressures him to curse and deny God; namely, the devil who uses murderous thoughts to shred him to pieces and drown him in sorrow. If, therefore, someone patiently endures adversities and thanks God for them, he has secured the crown of a martyr."
Reached capacity:

[@michaelkay8914]

Lord Jesus Christ son of God have mercy on me and save me a sinner

[@user-wc5pl2wf4t]

Спаси БОЖЕ🙏 люди ТВОЯ и благослови достояния ТВОЯ🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Orthodoxi]

O glory to thee O God!
O glory to thee! 🌈

[@guskarafilis8214]

Absolutely beautiful ❤️

[@joepavone3586]

Thank you for this video and your ministry-it's a blessing. Please keep the videos coming !