Gratitude in Every Season

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Notice Paul doesn’t say for everything, but in everything. Life brings seasons of joy and seasons of trial, yet God’s will is that we cultivate gratitude no matter the circumstance. Thanksgiving is not limited to a holiday—it is a posture of the heart. When we choose to thank God even in difficulty, we declare our trust in His sovereignty and goodness. Gratitude becomes an act of faith, reminding us that He is working all things together for good.

Think of Daniel, who prayed and gave thanks to God even when it meant facing the lion’s den. His gratitude wasn’t tied to comfort but to confidence in God’s character. Or consider Paul and Silas, singing hymns in prison at midnight. Their thanksgiving turned chains into a testimony. Gratitude shifts our perspective from what we lack to what we have in Christ. It lifts our eyes from the storm to the Savior, from the trial to the triumph He promises. Thanksgiving is not denial of pain—it is recognition of God’s presence in the midst of it.

So how do we live this out today? Begin by naming your blessings, both big and small. Thank Him for salvation, for His Word, for family, for daily bread. And when trials come, thank Him for His sustaining grace and the lessons He is teaching you. Gratitude is like a light in the darkness—it changes the atmosphere of your heart and the witness of your life. This Thanksgiving, let us not only celebrate with food and fellowship, but let us embrace the will of God: to give thanks in everything. In doing so, we reflect Christ, who endured the cross with joy, and we shine His hope to a world in need.

“Let us get on our knees humbly and thank God for the blessings He has given us, both material and spiritual. They have come from His hand. This year as we observe our season of thanksgiving, let us be grateful not only in word but also in deed. Let our gratitude find expression in a resolve to live a life more unselfish and more consecrated to Jesus Christ.”
— Billy Graham, Thanksgiving Message, 2010