What do you do when you are not feeling the joy of Thanksgiving? What do you do when you are not feeling thankful?

Perhaps you have experienced deep loss. Maybe your plans for the long weekend did not work out. Thanklessness can even happen when you’re stuck in a slump and everyone else is being festive. You just are not ready to pretend to be happy.

Or worse, your plans worked out and everyone is coming over—including the people with whom you do not get along. It’s not just that you don’t get along. It’s that they are too self-absorbed, so happy with conflict, too eager to bring up your shortcomings, past offenses, or how horrible their life is currently.

What to do?

Without trampling your feelings, I will interject here and say, “Be thankful anyway.” I come by it honestly. In His Word, God tells us to give thanks in everything without qualification (1 Thess. 5:16).

Since we walk by faith and not by sight, we take Jesus at His Word (2 Cor. 5:7). God’s Word instructs us to walk with Jesus in the same way that we came to Jesus, by faith (Col. 2:6).

I will ask you to exercise faith. Take God at His Word when He says, “Be thankful.” Do not make the error of being so self-absorbed that you refuse to recognize the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Even in the worst of times, there ARE many areas for which we can thank God. Let God’s Word guide us here:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were
called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15

Peace arrives through the power of God’s presence. Thankfulness is a sweet surrender where you admit you have no control over anything and recognize the One who does. Recognize the rule of Christ in your heart by looking to Him with gratitude. When we can let go of our anxiety over our circumstances, we allow the power of Jesus’ presence to overwhelm us with a peace that surpasses understanding.

Down times can certainly arise when we need to get help from professional counselors. Deeply sad feelings are not to be a silent struggle. If it’s simply holiday blues or a seasonal discouragement, reach out to a friend. Find small ways to count your blessings.

The temptation can be to isolate, but Paul reminded us that we are part of a body, a community. One way to battle the isolation that thanklessness can bring is to reach out to a friend. In such a situation, we would much rather our friend reach out to us. But consider that your friend may not be aware. Be open. Be vulnerable. Tell the person you are not feeling thankful. Let them know that you are lonely.

We are called into one body—a statement of unity, community, and love for one another. Inform another person how you need to experience the love of Christ right now through human compassion. They will gladly be the hands and heart of Jesus for you.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and
admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16

Take God at His Word. His truth is eternal, alive, dynamic, and encouraging. Do not shut off this source of transforming grace just because your emotions are upside down. Thankfulness is the pathway to joy. Choosing gratitude might cause your heart to erupt in song. Or at least be glad for the presence of Christ in you.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:17

There is not much wiggle room here. Whether you speak or act, give thanks. Whether you breathe or move, be thankful. Our thankfulness represents our desire to magnify His name before others.

The Israelites of the Psalms would go back to the basics. They would start with God’s deliverance of them and then recall specific God-sightings in their lives for which they could give thanks.

I encourage you to make a short list of what God has done in you and through you. Start with the way He drew you to Himself. Give thanks for His redemption leading to your salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Recognize how the Spirit prompts you to encourage others, to serve selflessly, to love unconditionally. These actions are not normal. They are the work of God in you. I dare you to keep it to a short list!

If Thanksgiving is an awesome joy for you this year, go wild with thankfulness! Let God know. Let your people know. Let your joy lift the spirits of those around you.

I encourage you to give thanks by faith this week. Trust Jesus’ words and take them to heart. I’m thankful that you are in this body.

Love and blessings,
Dave