Thanksgiving: A Posture of the Heart

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of the timeless words of the Apostle Paul: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It’s easy to give thanks when life is smooth and blessings abound. But what about when we face hardships, uncertainty, or loss? How can we cultivate gratitude when our lives feel more like a wilderness than a promised land?

The Pilgrims knew this tension all too well. After a harrowing journey across the Atlantic in 1620, they faced disease, hunger, and a brutal winter that claimed the lives of nearly half their group. Yet, even in the face of unimaginable loss, they paused to give thanks. Their first Thanksgiving feast wasn’t born out of abundance but out of trust in a faithful God who had preserved them through adversity.

Their gratitude wasn’t rooted in their circumstances—it was anchored in their faith. Like the Psalmist who declared, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1), the Pilgrims chose to focus on God’s provision and presence, even in scarcity. Their thankfulness was an act of worship, a declaration that God’s goodness transcends their struggles.

Today, we might not be crossing oceans or enduring harsh winters, but our challenges are no less real. We face personal losses, cultural shifts, and global uncertainties that can leave us weary and searching for hope. Yet, the same God who guided the Pilgrims through their wilderness walks with us through ours. His faithfulness hasn’t waned. His promises remain.

This Thanksgiving, as we gather around tables laden with food, let us remember that gratitude is more than a response to blessing—it is a posture of the heart. It’s a recognition that God’s faithfulness endures through every season, and His provision is steadfast even when we cannot see it.

Take a moment to reflect on the blessings you’ve experienced, even in the midst of difficulty. Like the Pilgrims, let us choose to give thanks—not because our lives are free from hardship, but because we serve a God who walks with us through it.

Let gratitude become the anthem of our hearts, reminding us that the God who kept the Pilgrims and the Psalmist is the same God who keeps us today. He is faithful. He is good. And He is worthy of our thanks.

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WIth Thanksgiving,

Richard Parrish