When Gratitude Feels Heavy

Thanksgiving week holds a mix of emotions for so many of us. Some tables will be full. Some will feel achingly empty. Some of us are walking into this week with joy, and some of us are carrying a knot of grief in our chest while we’re trying to smile through it.

If that’s you, I want you to know you’re not alone.

There were years when Thanksgiving felt like a spotlight on everything I thought I lacked. I’d look at the blessings in my life and still feel the ache of the places that hadn’t healed yet. Gratitude didn’t come easy. It felt like work.

But over time, the Lord has been teaching me something gentle and freeing.

Gratitude isn’t pretending everything is perfect.It’s recognizing God’s presence in the middle of what’s still messy.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:1

That verse doesn’t tell us to give thanks for everything.It invites us to give thanks in everything.Not because life is flawless, but because God is faithful.

He’s With You in What You Carry

Some of you are walking into this week with:

a strained relationship

a chair that sits empty this year

anxiety about finances

kids who are struggling

recovery battles

the sting of past holidays

a heart that feels tired from trying so hard

God sees all of that. And He isn’t asking you to put on a shiny mask for Thanksgiving.

He isn’t looking for polished.He’s looking for surrendered.

Because gratitude grows best in honest soil.

When you whisper, “Lord, I’m thankful You’re here,” even with tears in your eyes, that counts. When you take one deep breath and remember He’s holding you together, that counts. When you choose to look for His goodness in small, quiet corners of your day, that counts.

Grace at Your Table

Whatever your table looks like this Thanksgiving—crowded or quiet, joyful or complicated—His grace sits there with you.

His love doesn’t skip over the hurting places.His comfort doesn’t wait for everything to feel stable.His peace isn’t reserved for the people who have it all together.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

If you feel a little brokenhearted this week, He draws closer, not farther.

A Gentle Prompt for Reflection

Where have you seen God’s faithfulness this year, even in small ways?

What burden do you need to let Him help you carry this week?

How might you slow down and notice His presence in the middle of the holiday pace?

A Simple Prayer for Your Heart This Week

Father, thank You for meeting me where I am.Thank You that Your goodness doesn’t depend on my circumstances.Help me see Your hand in the everyday moments, even the small ones.Hold my heart where it feels heavy.Fill my home with Your peace and my spirit with a quiet gratitude that grows from knowing You’re near.In Jesus’ name, amen.