Holidays can be difficult times, especially when your circumstances are difficult. Broken or dysfunctional relationships, divorce, death, significant health issues, financial stress, infertility, loneliness, depression, anxiety, addiction. 

Sure, I know I’m not supposed to let my circumstances determine my mood. But reality says otherwise. More than once I’ve entered the holiday season wishing I could wave a magic wand and it would be January.

So how can you be thankful when you don’t feel thankful? Here are 3 ways.

1.    Release your cares and worries to God.

Easier said than done? Perhaps. But it works, when you do it. It’s pretty simple. You can worry, or you can let God worry for you. Worrying is a control issue. You’re trying to control your life rather than letting God control it. Here’s God’s promise. 

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7, NLT

2.    Reboot your perspective.

If you are a child of God, then your relationship with Christ means that you always can find peace, joy, and hope, no matter what your circumstances. Nothing in this life changes your relationship with Christ, how much He loves you, or the promise of spending eternity with Him, free from the cares of this life! Let Romans 8:38-39 reboot your perspective.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39, NLT

3.    Remember God’s faithfulness. 

When you are discouraged or down, start counting your blessings. Remember how God has been faithful to you. You might be surprised how blessed you really are. You may also find strength for today, knowing that God has been faithful in the past.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Psalm 36:5, NLT

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Jerry