Thanksgiving: A Season to See God’s Goodness Everywhere
Thanksgiving has a way of slowing us down just long enough to recognize something we often overlook: God’s goodness is not only around us—it is sustaining us, even when life feels heavy. In the busyness of ministry and the challenges of living out our faith in New England, we sometimes need the reminder that the Lord’s care does not change with our circumstances.
Scripture encourages us:
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 106:1, ESV).
That word endures is where our hope lives. God’s love is constant through joy and sorrow, gain and loss, clarity, and confusion. His goodness is not fragile, and it is not shaken by the storms we walk through.
“Give Thanks in All Circumstances” — A Personal Journey Through Grief
Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV).
This verse does not ask us to pretend that painful circumstances are good. It does not tell us to be thankful for the hardship. Instead, it invites us to recognize that even in our darkest seasons, God’s grace can still be found.
I discovered this truth in a profound way over the last two years. In 2023, when my wife died of cancer, I was not thankful for the cancer—no one would be. But God helped me find things to be thankful for in the journey, even as I walked through grief.
Kay received excellent medical care from people who treated her with dignity and compassion. Kay had a deep desire to die at home instead of in a medical facility, and the Lord allowed that desire to come true. Kay wanted pass into eternity surrounded by family, and she was—resting peacefully holding my hand, and our daughter’s hand, with her sister, and mother by her side, and the presence God hovering over the room in a palatable way. That was a gift of grace few people get to experience.
She was determined to live long enough to attend our son’s wedding, and she did. Our other son had just welcomed a new baby into the world, and her great longing was to hold that child. God granted that sacred moment as well.
These were not trivial things. They were profound mercies—evidence of God’s tender care in the middle of an overwhelmingly difficult season. No, I was not grateful for the cancer, but I learned to be grateful within the challenge for the ways God showed His kindness, His timing, and His sustaining grace.
Life will always bring days when the road is steep. But Thanksgiving teaches us to look for God’s fingerprints—not to deny the struggle, but to discover the blessings present within it. Gratitude in hardship does not erase the pain, but it transforms how we walk through it. It reminds us that God has not abandoned us, even when life hurts.
Gratitude That Strengthens Our Service
Pastors and other church leaders across New England carry tremendous responsibilities—often quietly and behind the scenes. They comfort, encourage, lead, pray, serve, organize, teach, and faithfully keep the ministry moving forward. Their service matters deeply.
When we practice thankfulness in challenging times, something powerful happens: our hearts grow steadier, our perspective becomes clearer, and our ministry becomes infused with renewed compassion and strength.
Peter encouraged believers, “Serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV).
Varied grace—the kind that shows up in unexpected ways during difficult seasons. Thanksgiving helps us recognize that grace and let it shape the way we serve others.
A Prayer for Our Thanksgiving Season
As we gather with loved ones and our church communities this year, may we experience the peace that comes from knowing our heavenly Father sees us, carries us, and walks beside us—especially in the challenging seasons.
Lord, teach us to see Your hand at work even in difficult days.
Give us hearts that can recognize Your mercies during sorrow or struggle.
Strengthen every pastor and church leader across New England with renewed hope, compassion, and gratitude.
And may our thanksgiving overflow into a life of faithful service for Your glory. Amen.