Are You Still Going to Praise Me?
Thanksgiving is a season when we are reminded to count our blessings and give thanks to God. But what happens when life doesn’t feel like a blessing? What happens when your heart is broken, someone you love is missing from the Thanksgiving table, and gratitude feels almost impossible?
The Bible speaks of offering God a “sacrifice of praise”:
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” — Hebrews 13:15
I understand the word sacrifice in that verse much differently than I once did.
After my son Jason died in 2018, my faith was shaken by a loss I never imagined I would have to endure. One day, in the midst of that grief, I sensed God speaking quietly to my spirit:
“Are you still going to praise Me?”
My answer was humble and simple:
“Yes, Lord—even now.”
I wasn't saying that I understood what had happened. I wasn't saying that I wasn't devastated or that I was somehow okay with losing my son. I was saying that even in the worst storm of my life, God was still God—and I would continue to worship Him.
There is a beautiful Casting Crowns song called “Praise You in This Storm.” Its message became very real to me. Praise isn't reserved for the seasons when prayers are answered the way we hoped, our families are intact, and life is going well. Sometimes our most meaningful praise is offered through tears.
That is when praise truly becomes a sacrifice.
For someone who is grieving, Thanksgiving can be especially difficult. You can be grateful for the people sitting around your table while desperately missing the one who isn't there. You can thank God for today's blessings while still grieving what you have lost. Grief and gratitude can exist in the same heart.
God does not ask us to pretend that everything is wonderful. Scripture is filled with people who cried out to Him in sorrow, confusion, and pain. Yet even in suffering, we can choose to remember His character, His promises, and His presence.
Perhaps this Thanksgiving your praise won't sound joyful. Perhaps it will be whispered through tears. Maybe all you can say is:
“Lord, I don't understand. My heart still hurts. But I trust You. And yes—even now—I will praise You.”
That may be one of the most precious offerings we ever give Him.
This Thanksgiving, we don't have to be thankful for every painful thing that has happened to us. But even in the middle of grief, we can look for what remains: love, memories, people who walk beside us, God's presence, and the hope we have in Christ.
Sometimes Thanksgiving is a celebration.
And sometimes, it is a sacrifice of praise.
