As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been reflecting over the last few months. They’ve been really, really hard. Many of you know my father passed away in late September. After Dad’s death, Mom’s Alzheimer’s worsened significantly. So my brother and I had to make the hard decision to get her a higher level of care than she could get at home.
So here we’ve been – experiencing grief, loss, and tough decisions.
And now, I’m forced to turn to Thanksgiving. Family is coming. There’s a turkey waiting to be fried.
Thankfulness is Bigger than Hardship
Honestly, I’m glad for this time. A reminder to be intentional and purposeful in my gratitude to God. A gentle push to remember that God always deserves my thankfulness, no matter my temporary, physical circumstances.
The prophet Habakkuk knew this truth and expressed it beautifully:
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19, NIV
God deserves my gratitude. Even now. Especially now. The Bible clearly tells us that this temporary life on earth will be filled with death, illness, struggles, and difficulty. Our thankfulness should not and cannot depend on these circumstances. (See: “Is God Still Good When My Circumstances Aren’t?)
But God’s goodness and grace are bigger than these bits of sorrow.
In His grace, God gives me strength and peace in the midst of heartbreak. He carries me through every fire, flood, and valley (Isaiah 43:1-3). And He nudges my heart to remember His greater reality for me. My sins have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus. My eternal future is secure.
Intentional Thanksgiving for God’s Grace
Thankfulness is the right response to God and His grace in our lives. We don’t deserve anything. We don’t deserve forgiveness or salvation. Every good thing in our lives is an act of grace from our loving and merciful heavenly Father, like the sun and rain that bring the harvest. Even strength and endurance in times of difficulty are grace gifts from God. (See “3 Reasons to Thank God Even When We Don’t Feel Blessed.”)
God wants our thanksgiving and commands us to be thankful. He doesn’t need anything from us but He does expect us to respond to who He is and what He does with gratitude (Psalm 50:13-15).
What’s so amazing is that even thankfulness itself is a gift from God. Gratitude shifts our attitude and makes us more aware of God’s activity in our lives. It humbles us and allows us to see just how truly great our God is. Giving thanks to God for His mercy and kindness is a blessing and a privilege!
Will you join me this week in practicing some purposeful thanksgiving? Tell us below something you are thankful for!
Thankful for You , Kathy! Your encouragement helps so many. You have been intentional when times were tough to push through and encourage us all. My husband of 43 yrs walked out on me with a younger woman in the midst of my dying father’s battle with a 93 yr old body, stroke and dementia. It has been gut wrenching but your posts have been helpful and I have shared your sweet book on caring for aging parents with other friends facing the same trial.Thank you from the bottom and top of my heart!!!!
Jane, I am so sorry to hear about your hardships and heartbreak. Praise God that He is ever-present in our grief and that He gives us His strength in our weakness. I am praying for you this morning!
Thank you for this as here we are in Texas now and far away from our immediate family. It’s hard, but knowing that we are thankful for what He is doing as we willingly submit to His will for our lives. I’m also thankful for having met you and Wayne! You are such an encouragement to me! Thankful!!!🙏🏻💕
And I am thankful for you friend!
I am thankful for good friends! 🙂 I am thankful for the encouragement you share on a daily basis, Kathy! I am thankful for our Heavenly Father and his gift of salvation, grace and forgiveness he makes available to everyone! I am very thankful for my all of my family! Happy Thanksgiving!!
See you soon friend!
Beautiful reminder to be grateful for the eternal weight of Glory when our temporary (praise God!) circumstances are difficult! I’m sorry you’re in a difficult season sweet friend, but I am praising God for your faith in the midst of it! Love you, Kathy, and I’m thankful for your friendship!
I am thankful for you Susan! Miss you!
I know you are hurting. This really speaks to me today too, Kathy, as I try to recover from a bacterial chest infection. But also, I am imagining how hard it must be for so many in California right now to be thankful. They’ve lost everything in the wildfires—many losing not only homes but loved ones.
Gratitude is a an attitude that only God can give us, but thanksgiving is a choice no matter how we feel. God commands us to give thanks not only for His glory, but for our ultimate good.
So I’m grateful for this focus. You are much loved.
Dawn, I am sorry you’ve been sick! But I am thankful that God’s truth encourages us all in our specific circumstances of life!
Kathy, I am sorry to hear of your recent loss, may our Father lift you in his mericiful arms and give you comfort. I am thankful for my wonderful husband, mother, and mother-in-law, they are such blessings in my life, especially with the health challenges I’ve endured.
Sharon, thank you for your sweet prayer for me. May God strengthen you as well and fill you with His peace and grace.
I’m uplifted spiritually. God bless you.
Kathy:
So grateFULL- that I can put an extra L on that word. I will do a list but literally, it will begin with you because you are the one God chose to remind me of His recipe for us to combat trials and challenges, hurt and loneliness, broken hearts and burdened brains- it is through “praise” that we get to connect with what is going right and what is good. So, let me start my list
God’s Word that uplifts
Health
Home
Food in the fridge
Tea
Coffee
Sunshine
Warm, fragrant air or cool, crisp air (depending on where you live)
For compassionate companions in struggle
People to pray with
Church
Worship music
Christmas 🎄 hymns
The reminder that Christ, the Saviour was BORN so we always have immediate connection to…
His Living and Loving Spirit
Scripture that compels us to courage and strength in suffering
Laughter
Babies smiles
Dogs 🐶
Cherry birds
Natures
Soothing water
Comfy sweaters or blankets
A great book
A great movie
A good rest
A warm bubble bath
Reading a devotion that invigorates you because a special lady named Kathy inspired you to do what I needed to do…give thanks with a grateFULL heart. Give thanks to the Holy One
[w will not] despair for [we] believe [we] will see the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living”
Dear Lord:
All these burdens and sorrows that are threatening and bothering us – may you take all the burdens and give all reading this a Tender, unmistakable glimpse of Your Goodness. You are so Good and Loving. Thank you for Peace in hard times and for the reminder to “be thankful always for this is the will of Christ Jesus”. Death comes to rob, still, kill and destroy but You came to “give us Life and in abundance”. May Peace and Rest be gifts all receive during their time of mourning and grief.
Thank you for the blessing of Kathy’s blog – for her courageous sharing. Bless her with your Lavish Love and May her Thanksgiving be one of many Tender glimpses and experiences of your Gentle, Quiet Love.
In Jesus Name –
Blessings from Toronto, Canada
Janine, thank you for your wonderful list and your sweet prayer! I pray God will bless your purposeful thanksgiving with His peace and joy!