Gratitude for the Journey: Giving Thanks as Fellow Pilgrims

Thanksgiving has always meant a lot to me.

Part of that is obvious from my last name. When your name is Pilgrim, you grow up hearing a lot of Thanksgiving jokes and references. Over time, our family leaned into it. We love the holiday, not just for the food, family, and football, but for the intentional pause it gives us. A moment to breathe, to look around, and to say, “God, thank You.”

It is one of my favorite days of the year. But the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I realize something important. Thanksgiving is not supposed to be one day on the calendar. It is supposed to be our posture as fellow pilgrims.

As believers, we are all pilgrims. We are passing through, headed toward a better country, learning to walk with God in the middle of ordinary days and heavy burdens. And along the way, gratitude is not just a nice extra. It is one of the ways God shapes our hearts, lifts our eyes, and quiets our fears.

So as we prepare for the Thanksgiving season, let's talk more about gratitude.

Why Gratitude Matters For Fellow Pilgrims

When life is busy or painful, gratitude can feel optional. Something we will get to later, once things calm down, once the problem is solved, once the prayer is answered.

But Scripture does not treat thanksgiving as optional. It treats it as essential.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)

That little phrase “in all circumstances” is challenging. It does not say we give thanks for everything, as if evil and suffering are good. It says we give thanks in everything. Right in the middle of the unfinished, the unresolved, the hard.

Gratitude matters because it reorients us. It reminds us we are not the center of the story, God is. It reminds us that even in the desert, there is manna. Even in the storm, there is a Savior in the boat.

As fellow pilgrims, thanksgiving keeps our hearts pointed home.

Thanksgiving That Pushes Back Our Anxiety

One of the most beautiful connections in Scripture is the link between gratitude and peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

Most of us know this passage, but I still need the reminder. Paul does not just say, “Pray when you are anxious.” He says, “Pray with thanksgiving.”

Why is that so powerful?

Because when we start to thank God, we remember who we are talking to. We remember what He has already done. We remember specific ways He has been faithful in the past, and that memory silences the lie that we are alone now.

I have seen this in my own life. When my mind starts racing with what ifs, my prayers often sound like a list of problems. But when I slow down and add, “God, thank You for…,” something shifts.

The problems may not disappear, but the panic starts to loosen its grip. His peace begins to guard my heart and mind.

Thanksgiving does not ignore anxiety. It puts it in the hands of a Father who is bigger than what we fear.

Gratitude Softens Our Hearts

Without gratitude, our hearts harden slowly. We start to feel entitled. We focus on what is missing, what is unfair, what others have that we do not. Resentment grows quietly in the corners.

But thanksgiving softens us.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

Notice the connection. Peace ruling in our hearts, and then, “And be thankful.” Gratitude makes room for Christ’s peace to settle in. It pulls the weeds of comparison and self-pity.

This shows up in very ordinary moments.

In marriage, gratitude turns “Why do they always…” into “God, thank You that You have given me this person, even with our imperfections.”

In parenting, gratitude shifts “I am exhausted” into “Thank You for the gift of this little life, and the grace to keep going.”

At work, gratitude replaces “I hate this” with “Thank You that I have a way to provide for my family and a chance to serve You here.”

We will still have hard days. Gratitude does not erase the struggle, but it keeps our hearts from becoming bitter inside it.

Learning To See Gifts In Ordinary Days

When we hear “thanksgiving,” we often think of big moments. A powerful worship service, a promotion, a diagnosis that finally comes back clear.

But most of our lives are not made of big moments. They are made of Tuesdays. Commutes. Dishes. Emails. Bedtime routines.

Gratitude trains us to see God in those ordinary Tuesdays.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Psalm 103:2 (ESV)

That little phrase “forget not” is so human. We forget quickly. We forget the prayer that was answered last month because a new problem showed up this week. We forget yesterday’s manna while we worry about tomorrow’s bread.

Practically, this might look like:

• Thanking God for a warm house when the weather turns cold.

• Thanking Him for the person who texts to check in at just the right time.

• Thanking Him for laughter at the dinner table, even if the food is simple and the day was long.

The more we practice this, the more our eyes adjust. We start to see grace where we used to see only routine.

Giving Thanks In The Middle, Not Just After

If we are honest, many of us are comfortable thanking God after He works. After the job comes through. After the relationship is restored. After the crisis has passed.

But Scripture calls us to something deeper.

“Give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

“In” does a lot of work in that sentence. It means we can bring God our tears and our gratitude at the same time. We can say, “God, this hurts, but thank You that You are with me. Thank You that You are still good, even here.”

That kind of thanksgiving is not denial. It is trust. It is confidence that the story is not over and that the Author is still kind.

As fellow pilgrims, we are often “in the middle” of something. A health journey. A family struggle. A season of waiting. Gratitude does not require us to pretend the middle is easy, but it helps us remember we are not walking it alone.

So Let Me Ask You (as I ask myself):

• What have I been taking for granted lately that I need to thank God for?

• When anxiety rises, do I only bring God my requests, or do I also bring Him my thanksgiving?

• How would my attitude at home or work change if I chose to notice and name God’s gifts each day?

• Am I waiting to thank God until everything is resolved, or learning to thank Him in the middle of the story?

• What simple practice of daily gratitude could help soften my heart and steady my focus this week?

A Closing Encouragement

As pilgrims, we are not just passing time. We are being shaped. Gratitude is one of the tools God uses to do that.

It does not erase our worries, but it brings them into His presence. It does not deny our pain, but it reminds us of His goodness in it. It does not depend on everything going right, but on the truth that He is with us, even when so much feels wrong.

Most of all, thanksgiving turns our eyes back to Jesus.

We give thanks because He has forgiven us. Because He is with us. Because He is preparing a home for us. Because, one day, every tear will be wiped away and every pilgrim will finally rest.

Until then, gratitude helps us walk. One step, one day, one prayer of thanks at a time.

Until the journey is complete,

Jonathan Pilgrim

P.S. This week, try ending each day by thanking God for three specific things, no matter how small. Write them down, say them out loud, or share them with someone you love. You may be surprised at how much it changes your focus, your mood, and your sense of His presence.