Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you’re all having a wonderful long weekend and have been able to rest from the busyness of September.
The idea of gratitude that’s at the centre of this season has always been close to my heart. One person who I think captured this spirit of gratitude so well was Paul. Paul was obviously a great man; almost half of the books in the New Testament can be attributed to him! But he also suffered so much persecution. He was thrown into prison at least four times!
Four books in the Bible are actually letters that Paul wrote from prison, and one of them is Philippians. In Phil 1:13 Paul mentions that “I am in chains for Christ.” What is surprising is that in that exact same letter (Phil 4:4), he also says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Paul had an amazing way of dealing with challenges, and responding with thankfulness was such a big part of that. Further on in his letter, he makes one of his most iconic statements that actually became a memory verse for us in 2025.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Whenever I recite this verse, the words “with thanksgiving” stand out to me. Paul is teaching us not to be anxious about anything but to pray about everything–but we need to do this in a spirit of thankfulness.
There are times when we pray out of a spirit of anxiety. We may be facing a difficult circumstance, a sudden difficulty, or a buildup of worry. But it is in those exact situations–when it seems like there is nothing to be thankful for–that gratitude becomes so important.
When we add thanksgiving to our prayers, it can bring about a spirit of peace instead of anxiety. We’re able to find peace in a God who cares for us so deeply. And this is a peace that can transcend our understanding. It can transcend our understanding because it comes from God, not from our circumstances or from ourselves. We start to pray from a place of trust and security in God instead of anxiety.
Church family, let’s enter the fall season with a spirit of genuine gratitude, even in the midst of difficulties and struggles. As we do, God will continue to transform us and increase our faith.