The Inclusiveness of Thanksgiving

The Inclusiveness of Thanksgiving

In the opening message of Gratitude for All Seasons, Pastor Ralph Douglas West invited us to rediscover the heart of Thanksgiving—not as a holiday, but as a habit of the faithful. Quoting the Apostle Paul’s instruction to “give thanks in all circumstances,” Pastor West taught that gratitude is not about pretending that pain doesn’t exist; it’s about praising God in the midst of it.

He reminded us that Paul never thanked God for his imprisonment, beatings, or shipwrecks—but he did thank God in them, trusting that God was still working for good. Likewise, we are not asked to be thankful for sickness, loss, or hardship, but to be thankful in those moments because God is still sovereign, still present, and still faithful.

Through vivid examples—from Abraham on Mount Moriah to Joseph in Egypt, and even Martin Luther and Dr. King in their trials—Pastor West showed that gratitude has always been a decision of faith. It’s about how we interpret life: will we see the mud, or will we see the stars?

In the end, true thanksgiving is an act of volition—a conscious choice to lift our eyes to God, even when the world gives us every reason not to. As Pastor West declared, “I may not thank Him for everything, but I will thank Him in everything—because the same cross that held Jesus could not hold Him down.”

Key Lessons

• Gratitude is a choice. It’s not about feelings—it’s about faith.

• Prepositions matter. God asks us to thank Him in everything, not for everything.

• Perspective shapes praise. What you focus on—mud or stars—determines your gratitude.

• Faith grows through testing. True faith is proven when it’s tested, not when it’s easy.

• Thanksgiving reveals trust. Even when life is hard, gratitude declares that God is still good.

Action Steps

• Reflect daily on one thing you can thank God in—not necessarily for.

• Shift your focus from what’s missing to what’s still working.

• Express gratitude aloud or in writing each day this week.

• Encourage someone who’s struggling by sharing a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

• Commit to practicing gratitude as worship, not as reaction.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being constant in every season. Teach us to give thanks not only when life feels good, but when it’s hard to understand. Help us to see Your hand in every circumstance, and to trust that all things are working together for our good. Strengthen our faith, renew our joy, and let gratitude become our daily posture. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This blog post is inspired by Pastor Ralph West's sermon, "The Inclusiveness of Thanksgiving". This sermon emphasizes that God performs miracles in response to our problems and limitations, particularly when we acknowledge our complete dependence on Him and remain open to His provision.

Click here to purchase the MP3 of the sermon, "The Inclusiveness of Thanksgiving"