Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday on the calendar. It’s a perspective of the heart. A way of seeing God’s goodness in every season.

Through the Apostle Paul, God tells us that His will for us is to “give thanks in everything” [1 Thessalonians 5:18].

Not because everything is good—but because God is good in everything.

The Psalms remind us that gratitude doesn’t grow best on mountaintops. It grows in valleys.

David often wrote with tears on the page, yet still declared, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good” [Psalm 136:1].

Thanksgiving is not pretending. It’s trusting.

So how do we give thanks when life feels heavy?

When we’re grieving

We thank Him that He is near to the brokenhearted [Psalm 34:18].

Gratitude becomes a quiet “You are with me,” even when others around the table are missing.

When we’re sad or lonely

We thank Him for His presence that never leaves us even in the darkest valleys of life [Psalm 23:4].

Loneliness says, “I’m forgotten.” Thanksgiving answers, “God sees me. God stays with me.”

When we’re struggling

We thank Him for strength that carries us when we are overwhelmed [Psalm 46:1-3].

Gratitude whispers, “God is still working,” even when we cannot see it.

When we’re anxious

We thank Him for His peace that steadies our racing hearts.

“When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy” [Psalm 94:19].

Thanksgiving loosens the grip of fear.

When we’re hurt by others

We thank Him that He is our defender and healer—the One who binds wounds no one else sees [Psalm 147:3].

We don’t give thanks for the hurt—we give thanks that God is faithful in the hurt.

Why gratitude matters today and on hard days

Giving thanks to God in all circumstances doesn’t erase pain. But it connects us to Him in all situations.

It reminds us we still have JESUS—His love, His presence, His promises, His hope. And that is enough to steady any trembling heart.

A friend recently shared the song, “There was JESUS,” sung by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton:

In the waiting, in the searching
In the healing and the hurting
Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces
Every minute, every moment
Where I’ve been and where I’m going
Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it
There was JESUS.

Thank You, Lord! Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it. There was JESUS.

JESUS is near and so good, so loving, so kind —even when we are clueless or distracted.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being near in every season— in grief, in loneliness, in struggle, in anxiety, and in pain. Help us see Your goodness today. Teach us to trust You with everything we carry. And grow gratitude in us as we trust and follow Your Son, JESUS. Amen.

Follow me…as I follow Jesus Christ.