When "Give Thanks" Feels Impossible

It’s Thanksgiving week, and as I’m writing this, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.

What is Thanksgiving about? The very title “Thanksgiving” can be seen as a directive to give thanks for what we’ve been given.  

I could tell you to be thankful and you might be going through one of the hardest things you’ve experienced so far. You might be thinking “How can choosing to be thankful possibly be helpful right now?” In a difficult moment, being reminded to be thankful can be the last thing I want to hear.

I know what it’s like to be in the trenches. It’s not fun, and someone telling you something else you should be doing can feel like the last straw.

So, if I’m honest, I don’t know exactly what to say in this post. I don’t want to preach but I do want to encourage if I can.

To the one in the trenches, I see you. It’s the time of year when family and friends are gathering together. The focus is joy and hope, but maybe you don’t feel that. Maybe this year looks different than you thought it would. Maybe it’s the first holiday without a family member, or you’re experiencing sickness or walking through a painful valley. Maybe you’re lonely and feel like God is far away.  

I know it’s not fun, but it’s ok. It’s ok to be where you’re at, going through whatever you are, feeling whatever you’re feeling. Please, please try to let that sink in. Read it over again if you need to.

So, here’s the practical part of this post. What does choosing to be thankful while you’re in the trenches look like? It won’t look like being thankful for the big things. It will look like being thankful for the small things, like clean water, socks on your feet, oxygen in your lungs, a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Saying or writing down what we’re thankful for isn’t going to change our situation. But it can bring peace for a moment. It can be a reminder that though some or many things in life feel like they are in chaos or are falling apart, there are small blessings that can secretly be making a big difference in our daily lives.

So, if life for you lately has felt like a valley low, you’re not alone. There might be this pressure from others or yourself to put the smile on your face when inside feels numb and confusing and painful. Be gentle with yourself. Let’s notice one small thing to be thankful for and you can share it with us in the comments if you want to. :)

I see you and I’m praying for you. God sees you and He loves you.