“How to Find Joy on Thanksgiving"
When You’re Exhausted and Overwhelmed
You made it to Thanksgiving Day.
Maybe you got here exhausted, up late prepping the meal, managing family dynamics, traveling when you didn’t have the energy, or hosting when you’re already running on empty. Maybe you’re here having said yes to everyone else again while your own needs went unmet. Maybe you’re looking around your table today and feeling more tired than thankful.
If that’s you, I want you to know: you’re not alone, and you’re not failing.
The pressure we put on ourselves, and that others put on us, during the holidays can be crushing. We’re told to be grateful, to create perfect moments, to hold it all together with a smile. But what happens when gratitude feels like just one more thing on our impossible to-do list?
What happens when Thanksgiving feels like an obligation instead of a gift?
My Thanksgiving That Felt Like Duty
Yesterday, I was listening to a podcast, and it brought me to a profound realization; a remembrance, really—about being grateful even in times of adversity.
It took me back to several Thanksgivings I spent with my family. Just the four of us: my dad, my mom, my brother, and me. Sometimes it was only three of us when my brother couldn’t be there.
I remember the year I volunteered to cook Thanksgiving dinner. I wanted to give Mom a break, and honestly, I wanted to avoid the awkwardness of celebrating at a relative’s home with dad. My dad could be... special. Difficult, even. He didn’t grow up with an immediate family; just him and his mom, moving from military base to military base at least eight times during his childhood. As an only child, who had faced a lot of societal challenges in the 1940’s through 1960’s, that was difficult for him. Anything that resembled family structure during the holidays wasn’t something he experienced prior to marrying mom. I never once heard him talk about Thanksgiving memories from his childhood.
So there I was, determined to create a good day for us.
I bought a 20-pound turkey, way too big for my apartment oven and definitely too much for three people. I made stuffing, sweet potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, vegetables, and those brown-and-serve rolls that I’d slather with butter. Everything except the pie and rolls was made from scratch. For dessert: mom’s favorite Mrs. Smith’s apple pie with ice cream. Simple. Traditional.
The turkey wouldn’t fit in my oven, so I had to haul it over to Mom’s house to finish cooking. All that work. All that effort. And in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, “This is a lot of trouble for one day. And Daddy will probably still find something to complain about.”
We made it through dinner. We conducted the usual small talk to avoid dad from saying something outlandish and we smiled our way through it. And like clockwork, my dad started nodding off right there at the dinner table as soon as he finished eating. Mom would lovingly say, “Leo,” and he’d slowly wake up just enough to relocate to the sofa to finish his nap. Then it was just Mom and me, moving to the living room to watch whatever NFL football game had been playing in the background while Dad slept.
At the time, it felt like I was just going through the motions. Checking the box. Getting through another family obligation.
But here’s what I see now, looking back with grateful eyes:
I’m thankful I could afford that food. I’m grateful I had a place to prepare and serve it. I’m blessed that I could be of service to my mother and father imperfect as they were, doing the best they could as young parents who brought me into this world and got me to where I am today. And for almost two years, this Thanksgiving, all that remains are the cherished memories of so many amazing experiences I shared together with both of my parents.
It’s funny how perspective shifts when you choose gratitude over resentment.
God was in those moments, whether I fully knew Him then or not. Yes, I was saved. Yes, I knew God. But not like I know Him now. Not with the understanding that even in the adversity, even in the family challenges, even in the exhausting preparation for a meal that felt more like duty than delight—God was teaching me. Growing me. Preparing me to share these very stories with you.
Without those difficult Thanksgivings, I wouldn’t have this testimony.
So today, I say thank you. Thank you for the hard moments that taught me grateful obedience.
Thanksgiving as an Act of Obedient Love
Here’s what I’m learning, friend: thanksgiving isn’t just a nice sentiment, it’s an act of obedience that transforms us.
Look at what Scripture tells us:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4)
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
God doesn’t command thanksgiving because He needs our praise. He commands it because He knows what we need.
When we choose gratitude; even in the hard moments, even when we’re tired, even when life hasn’t turned out the way we hoped, we’re not pretending everything is fine. We’re practicing obedience that opens our hearts to see God’s presence in our circumstances.
Grateful obedience shifts our focus from what’s draining us to what’s sustaining us.
From Obligation to Transformation
The beautiful truth? When we obey God’s call to give thanks, something miraculous happens:
Our perspective changes. We begin to see His faithfulness even in difficult seasons.
Our burdens lighten. Gratitude doesn’t erase our challenges, but it reminds us we’re not carrying them alone.
Our worth is renewed. We remember that our value isn’t in what we do for others, but in Whose we are.
Our joy returns. Not the shallow happiness that depends on circumstances, but the deep joy that comes from walking in obedience to a God who loves us.
You matter! Your life has purpose. And choosing gratitude today; even if it feels small, even if it’s just whispering “thank You, God, for getting me through today” is a powerful act of obedience that God sees and honors.
A Thanksgiving Prayer for Weary Hearts
Father,
Today I come to You tired but obedient. I choose thanksgiving not because everything is perfect, but because You are faithful. Thank You for sustaining me through the hard moments. Thank You for this day, this breath, this chance to begin again.
Help me see Your presence in my circumstances. Remind me that my worth isn’t measured by what I do, but by Whose I am…Yours. Renew my hope. Restore my joy. And let my grateful heart be an act of worship that pleases You.
In the exhaustion, in the overwhelm, in the uncertainty —I give thanks. Because You are good, and Your love never fails.
Amen.
Your Next Step
Today, even if it’s hard, choose one small act of grateful obedience:
Write down three things God has sustained you through this year
Speak a simple “thank You, God” prayer before your meal
Give yourself permission to rest without guilt
Tell God honestly how you’re feeling, then thank Him for listening
Your obedience matters. Your gratitude—even when it’s difficult—opens the door for God to work in your heart.
You are seen. You are loved. And your life still has a beautiful purpose ahead!
Happy Thanksgiving, to you and yours! 🦃✨
Joyfully yours, Tina💖
🗨️What’s one thing you’re choosing to thank God for today, even if it’s hard? Share in the comments,—I’d love to celebrate your grateful obedience with you.
