14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The command is to give thanks in all circumstances.
When things are going good
When things are going bad
When you are frustrated
When God doesn't answer your prayers
When God doesn't give us victory over .. ?
2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 (NIV)
...Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Does this mean we are to give up fighting. I believe not. I believe giving thanks gives us the correct prospective so that we can fight.
Though I don't believe there is a hard rule but it appears that when we give thanks sometimes God tells us why (like Paul and Corrie Ten Boom) and sometimes he makes it right (though not in the way we might want but in his perfect way). I think that is why being thankful is important as it takes our focus off of our self so that we can hear from God.
Jesus at the last supper knowing what was going to happen was still full of thanksgiving.
Luke 22 (NIV)
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
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