Thankful for What God Did… and What He Didn’t

Saying “thank you” when prayers are answered, doors open, and blessings overflow…but Thanksgiving isn’t just about what God did. It’s also a time to pause and recognize the quiet goodness in the things He didn’t do. When prayers weren’t answered as we’d hoped for. Those moments that didn’t make sense before but later shaped our hearts for today.

When Gratitude Feels Hard

Let’s be honest…some times gratitude doesn’t come naturally. Maybe there’s an empty chair at the table, a relationship that didn’t heal, or a dream that still hasn’t happened. As you look around it can feel like everyone else is celebrating while you’re wrestling with questions.

Do you recall the scripture, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

Notice that it doesn’t say “for” all circumstances, it says “in” them. Gratitude is a choice we make, not because everything’s going according to plan, but because we trust that God is still working, even when we don’t see it or feel it. Even when life doesn’t make sense or isn’t going as we’d planned.

Looking Back to See His Hand

Sometimes thankfulness comes later, when we look back and realize that the job you didn’t get, the door that didn’t open, or the prayer that wasn’t answered the way you wanted was actually protection and a blessing. What if the “no” was really God’s way of saying, “Not yet” or “I’ve got something better for you”.

Every season, especially Thanksgiving, invites us to pause and reflect:

• Where did God’s faithfulness show up in ways you may have missed?
• How has He carried you through what you thought you couldn’t handle?
• What did He withhold that ended up being grace and a blessing in disguise?

Gratitude grows when we take time to see the full story. When we see other people’s lives, especially on social media feeds, we’re seeing highlight reels. What we don’t see are the waiting seasons, the disappointments, or the moments of surrender. When we pause long enough to notice our own story – the ups, the delays, the prayers God answered differently – we start to see His faithfulness woven through it all.

Our Response Speaks to Others

The way we respond in those “He didn’t” moments can say more about our faith than any answered prayer ever could. When people see peace in you despite loss, or joy in the middle of waiting, it opens doors to share why. Joy comes because of who God is, not because of what He does for you. Sometimes the greatest joy comes from when He didn’t.

Psalm 100:5 says, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Even when we don’t understand His plan, His goodness hasn’t changed. We encourage you to put that one on a postnote and stick it on your bathroom mirror.

A Moment to Reflect

This Thanksgiving, take a quiet moment to look back. Not just at what went right, but at what God has taught you through the things that didn’t. Gratitude doesn’t always begin with a shout of celebration, sometimes it’s a whisper of surrender:

“Lord, thank You for what You’ve done, and thank You for what You didn’t.”

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