10/02/2026
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1
Gratitude is a powerful thing. Something healing happens when we deliberately pause and give thanks to God. In a world that often encourages us to focus on what we lack, what is going wrong, or what we wish were different, Scripture calls us to remember what God has already done. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice that Paul does not say we should give thanks for every circumstance. There are certainly things in life we would never choose to be thankful for. We experience loss, disappointment, illness, conflict, uncertainty, and seasons when we simply do not understand what God is doing. But we can learn to give thanks in every circumstance because God is with us in every circumstance.
As I reflect on gratitude, I'm reminded of how much I have to be thankful for. First and foremost, I am thankful for God's grace and for the salvation He has provided through Jesus Christ. Everything else begins there. I am thankful that my salvation does not depend upon my ability to be good enough, strong enough, or faithful enough. It rests upon the grace of God demonstrated through Jesus Christ. Through Him, we are forgiven, redeemed, adopted into God's family, and given the hope of eternal life. What a gift!
I am thankful for the privilege of serving God and others. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had over the past 49 years to do what I believe God has called me to do. Few people are blessed to spend their adult lives doing something they genuinely love, and I recognize that as a gift from God.
I am thankful for Linda, my partner in life and ministry for 48 years. I am thankful for our two daughters, their husbands, and our three grandchildren, who have all given their hearts to Christ. I am thankful for our extended families, for my parents and my seven siblings, and for the many friends God has brought into my life.
I am thankful for the people God has used to encourage me, challenge me, teach me, and sometimes redirect me when I needed to find my way again. I am especially thankful for the grace to forgive and to receive forgiveness. We all need both.
Perhaps that is one of the great lessons of gratitude: when we intentionally count our blessings, we begin to see our lives differently. Gratitude does not deny the difficulties we face. It does not require us to pretend that everything is fine when it isn't. Rather, gratitude helps us remember that our difficulties are never the entirety of our story. God is still with you. God is still faithful. God is still good. God is still working. And His grace is still sufficient. Sometimes we simply need to stop long enough to remember.
So perhaps this is a good time for each of us to ask ourselves: What am I grateful for today? What blessings have I been taking for granted? Is there something I need to let go of so that I can experience greater peace and contentment? Who has God placed in my life for whom I need to give thanks?
My prayer is that we will become a people known for gratitude—not because life is always easy, but because we know the One who walks with us through it. May we be people who give thanks in the good times and the difficult times. May we be quick to recognize God's blessings, generous in expressing our appreciation to others, willing to forgive, and ready to extend the same grace we have received from Christ. And may our gratitude lead us not simply to feel better, but to love better, serve better, forgive more freely, and reflect Christ more clearly.
As we continue this journey together, I want you to know how grateful I am for the opportunity to serve alongside you during this season. I do not take that for granted. I am thankful for this church family. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve. Above all, I am thankful for a faithful God who has carried us this far and will continue to lead us wherever He calls us to go.
May we never become so focused on what we wish were different that we fail to see how much God has already given us. Give thanks. Choose joy. Trust God. And remember His faithfulness.
Blessings,
Bill
