11-24-24 “Don’t Worry, but Give Thanks!”

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“Don’t Worry, but Give Thanks!”

I want to start with something funny: A farmer was preparing for Thanksgiving and noticed his turkey strutting around the yard with a bit too much confidence. Every day, the farmer would feed him and say, “You’re going to make a fine Thanksgiving dinner.”

But as Thanksgiving approached, the turkey started getting nervous. So, he hatched a plan. On Thanksgiving morning, when the farmer came to the coop, the turkey wasn’t there!

The farmer searched everywhere until he finally found the turkey sitting in the middle of the barnyard with a large sign around its neck. The sign read: “EAT MORE BEEF.”

The farmer couldn’t stop laughing. He decided the turkey had earned its freedom with such a clever trick. So instead of turkey dinner, the family had hamburgers that year!

What a smart turkey! Like that turkey, who avoided its fate, we too receive God’s unearned and surprising grace. Psalm 100:4-5 reminds us, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever.” Even when we think we don’t deserve it, God’s love and mercy give us every reason to laugh, rejoice, and give thanks!

According to the Christian calendar, today is the last Sunday of the year, marking the end of the liturgical year. Next Sunday, with the beginning of Advent, we enter a season that leads us toward hope, peace, joy and love as we wait for the Lord and begin a new year.

Before Advent, Thanksgiving serves as a fitting conclusion to our year, inviting us to reflect with gratitude. The Apostle Paul encourages us in Colossians 2:6-7: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

As we receive God’s grace and love, we are called to let gratitude overflow from our hearts. Even in the face of difficulties, we have countless reasons to give thanks—because of Jesus Christ, God’s unwavering love, and the blessings in our lives, including our loved ones and daily provisions.

Today, we have the opportunity to reflect on this year and express our gratitude by writing a card of thanks to God. What a joy it is to share our grateful hearts, letting them overflow with thanksgiving! In today’s scripture, Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

Let’s be honest—don’t we often worry about these very things? Not because we lack them, but because we have so much! We stress over what to wear because our closets are full, and we ponder on what to eat because we have an abundance of food. Thank God for His generous provision!

However, we often forget His grace and instead focus on what we lack. When we dwell on scarcity, we’ll always feel incomplete. But when we cultivate a grateful mindset, we begin to see that we are already blessed with more than enough.

Make a list of things you’re thankful for. If you can’t remember what happened this year, even that’s a reason for gratitude! As Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Focusing solely on the past—whether it was good or bad—can hold us back. Instead, let’s look forward to what God has in store.

Jesus reminds us to “look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Living in Grantsburg, WI, I’ve come to truly appreciate this verse. Every fall, I see thousands of Sandhill Cranes migrating near my parsonage. It’s breathtaking to watch their orderly flight, their instinctive journey, and God’s provision for such a massive flock.

If God cares for the birds, how much more will He care for us? We are of far greater value to Him. Worrying won’t change our circumstances, but thanksgiving invites God to move in miraculous ways.

Here are a few examples of how giving thanks can lead to joyful salvation: Consider Paul and Silas, who were unjustly imprisoned for preaching the Gospel (Acts 16:25). Instead of despairing, they prayed and sang hymns to God at midnight. Through their gratitude and praise, a sudden earthquake shook the prison, opening its doors. Not only were they set free, but the jailer and his family came to salvation. Gratitude has the power to transform hardship into joy and reveal God’s grace in the darkest moments.

Similarly, Joseph endured numerous hardships, including being betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and unjustly imprisoned. Yet, in every situation, he trusted that God was with him and maintained an attitude of gratitude.

Ultimately, Joseph rose to become the prime minister of Egypt, a position through which he saved his family and an entire nation during a severe famine. He declared, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20), expressing his gratitude for God’s plan. It is vital to trust in God’s good plans for us and to give thanks, even in moments of hardship.

Let me close with a story. A small-town grandmother, known for her pies, hosted her family for Thanksgiving. She poured her heart into every dish, filling the home with the aroma of roasted turkey and spiced cider. But when it was time for dessert, disaster struck—the prized apple pie was burnt to a crisp. Embarrassed, she felt her perfect meal had been ruined. Yet, instead of frustration, she placed the burnt pie on the table with a smile and said, “Let’s give thanks. Today isn’t about perfection; it’s about the love we share and the God who provides.”

Her son chimed in, “Mom, life is full of burnt pies—mistakes and setbacks. But love and grace make everything sweeter.” That evening, the family laughed, enjoying store-bought cookies and ice cream. They realized the burnt pie wasn’t a failure—it was a reminder of grace, humility, and the joy of being together.

We all face “burnt pie” moments in life. Yet, gratitude shifts our focus from what’s wrong to what’s right. As 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

This Thanksgiving, let us put aside our worries and let gratitude overflow in every circumstance. Thanks be to God. Amen!