I’m Australian, so I had a very different weekend from most of my colleagues. No turkey. No catching up with distant cousins. No football. No pumpkin pie (thankfully). But though I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, I’m still called to express thanksgiving. As a Christian, I’ve received eternal life and myriad other blessings from my heavenly Father through Christ. What do I have that I didn’t receive (1 Cor. 4:7)?

Last week, Joe Carter wrote about how an underrated attribute of God could fuel our thanksgiving—at any time of year. That attribute prompts a question: “What if God doesn’t merely have one purpose but countless good reasons for everything he ordains?”

I may be thankful (between yawns) for a 5:30 a.m. meeting because I get to connect with my colleagues. But my gratitude is multiplied when I consider that every other benefit is a gift from my Father’s hand: The head start on my day that makes me more productive. The sunrise streaming through the window so my whole kitchen glows. The opportunity to make my husband’s coffee before he gets out of bed.

Thinking this way can likewise give us many reasons for joy in hard seasons. We don’t need to figure out one main purpose in our suffering. As Joe writes, “We move from asking ‘Why would God allow this?’ to ‘How many of his infinite good purposes might I discover today?’”

So what is this divine attribute? You’ll have to read Joe’s article to find out. And along the way, you’ll be equipped to “abound in thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7).

The Thanksgiving holiday may be over for another year, but God’s will is the same every day: “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18). Will you obey?

Editors’ note: If you’re interested in developing your writing skills, join TGC’s editorial team for our next TGC Writers’ Cohort, February 25 to April 15, 2026 (8 weekly sessions). Learn more.