Thanksgiving Devotional: Finding Gratitude in Every Season
Updated October 2025
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite seasons—a time for cozy meals, family laughter, and pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream. But beyond the food and traditions, Thanksgiving is also a sacred invitation to slow down and reflect on God’s blessings. That’s why I wanted to share this Thanksgiving devotional with you.
It’s not about doing Thanksgiving “perfectly” or hosting a Pinterest-worthy dinner. Instead, it’s about pausing in the middle of the busy, remembering who God is, and choosing gratitude—even in the ordinary or unexpected moments. For me, that lesson came from a surprising place: an Instagram giveaway. (Yes, really!)
So grab a warm mug of cider, settle in for a short read, and let’s dive into this Thanksgiving devotional together—because gratitude changes everything.
Thanksgiving Devotional: A Lesson in Gratitude From an Instagram Giveaway
I sighed remorsefully as I clicked “X” on an order for a new skincare product, sent an “I can’t right now message” to a friend asking us out, and closed the browser where I had been scrolling Pottery Barn, dreaming of new furniture.
My husband and I were in one of those limiting seasons–we were feeling stressed and stretched thin financially, working super hard to pay off our last bit of debt and stick to our pre-planned budget.
“If you could just test me with riches, God, I’m sure I could handle it well.” I joked aloud. But on the other side of my laughter was the truth–I worry about money. Not like “Where are we going to eat worry” but more like…
- “Can we eat Chick-Fil-A this week?”
- “Are we putting enough away for retirement?”
- “How will we afford to put these kids in braces?”
As October pulls us in toward the holidays, I think of this season of the year as one of of bounty. In the fields the harvesters are filling the grain trucks with an unending stream of golden corn. I’m thinking (already, I know!) about Christmas trees overflowing with gifts under them. When I think of thanksgiving I picture the oak dining room table at my Grandma’s house overflowing with dressing and rolls and laughter and people.
We love seasons of bounty and abundance–but more often than not we experience seasons of limits.
The sting of the limit hurt.
About a week later a message popped up in my Instagram inbox “You’ve won the signature sectional!” I had won a giant, beautiful sectional in a giveaway I randomly entered from an online influencer.
Unbelievable, right? I can still hardly believe it actually happened to us. Even now, years later, we are still loving that sofa. It’s hosted Harry Potter movie nights and countless playdates and small groups and late night breastfeeding sessions and insomniac nights. It’s a physical marker of God’s faithfulness and generosity to us.
Listen, I don’t think God is in the business of rigging Instagram giveaways—He’s definitely not a genie-in-a-bottle. But He is exceedingly kind. He’s always generous with us spiritually, pouring out “every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus” on us, but He’s also generous with “silly” things like a giant, sink-into-it sectional.
And in a God-flex moment He wanted to remind me– my limits aren’t His limits.
RELATED: 30 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT THANKFULNESS AND GRATITUDE
This reminds me of another God-flex story– the time Jesus fed a crowd of thousands with just a couple fish and pieces of bread. Jesus is teaching in a solitary place, and a great crowd has amassed to hear him–but they’re waaaay out there and there’s nothing to eat.
All the disciples could see were their limits. All they could see was their financial limits, the physical limits of five loaves of bread and two small fish. They had done the math and it didn’t add up.
But they forgot to add Jesus to the equation.
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.)
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. -John 6:10-13 NLT
The limits were true then, and our limits are true today too.
But God is so much bigger than our limits.
We have all in some way felt the sting of our limits. You may feel limited by your body. You may feel limited by your mental health–you’d love to be a person who didn’t struggle with anxiety or depression. You may feel limited by your relationship status. You may feel limited by your bank account.
But God. God can do limitless things within your limits. Where you see a packed lunch for one, God sees a feast for a multitude, with leftovers worthy of a Thanksgiving dinner.
I love that God includes that detail–there wasn’t just enough, there was an abundance! Everyone ate until they were push back from the Thanksgiving table, get the stretchy pants, can’t eat another bite FULL.
I don’t know how God will choose to meet you in your limits today friend. It may be with an abundance of grace, an abundance of friendship, an abundance of laughter, an abundance of peace or an abundance of dark meat turkey–but He is always meeting the needs of His children. And I’m so thankful.
What the Bible Says About Thanksgiving
God’s Word is full of reminders to pause and give thanks—not just on Thanksgiving Day, but in every season of life. Here are a few verses you can reflect on as part of this Thanksgiving devotional:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
- Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
- Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
- Psalm 107:1 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
These verses remind us that gratitude isn’t tied to perfect circumstances—it’s rooted in the character of a faithful God.
A Thanksgiving Prayer for You and Your Family
Father, thank You for being with us today as we pause to celebrate and acknowledge the rich blessings in our lives. We bump up against limits every day, but You, God, are never limited—Your abundance knows no end. In the middle of trials and challenges, You remain faithful and always worthy of our joyful thanksgiving.
Let an attitude of gratitude fill our spirits and overflow into our families, our friendships, and our daily lives. Even when good news feels scarce, we choose to be thankful.
We’re grateful for the little blessings—clean socks, warm rolls, crisp fall air, and the gift of simply being together. We’re grateful for the big ones too—jobs, homes, friendships, freedom, and above all, Your matchless grace given through Jesus’ sacrificial love.
Keep us thankful every single day, Lord, for all Your good gifts.
Amen.
Here’s a short Thanksgiving prayer you can use at your table:
Father, today we thank You for both the small joys—warm rolls, crisp air, and time together—and the big gifts of family, friendship, freedom, and Your grace through Jesus. Even in our limits, we trust Your limitless love. Fill our hearts with gratitude not just today, but every day. Amen.
Gratitude Reflection Questions
- Has God ever met your needs (or wants) in a weird or unusual way?
- Do you feel like thanksgiving is easier in when life is good?
- How can we choose to show a grateful heart even in hard or boring seasons?
- What is one thing you’re most thankful for this year?
As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, may we remember that gratitude isn’t about ignoring our limits, but about trusting the God who works powerfully within them. He turns scarcity into abundance and transforms ordinary moments into reminders of His faithfulness. My husband and I even wrote a song together about these “limiting seasons” this past year—it’s called Limitless, and you can check it out here.
May this Thanksgiving devotional inspire you to lift your eyes from what feels small and see the God who is always big enough, always good, and always worthy of thanks.
This is inspiring. It came up at the right time. Indeed, I am grateful for His limitless love towards me and my family.
Me too, friend. Thanks for reading.