Thanksgiving is tomorrow! It’s my favorite holiday because it comes with the best parts of a special holiday without the stresses of gift-giving. Thanksgiving reminds us to be thankful and grateful but true gratitude is meant to be practiced daily. It’s a posture of the heart.
It might seem that gratitude isn’t easy when times are tough. The truth is, real growth comes to us during the challenging times.
“So I Throw Up My Hands…” – Surrender Through Gratitude
Brandon Lake gave a FABULOUS concert turned worship service this week. His song “Gratitude,” is the message I want to talk about this week.
Surrender instead of control. Surrender to God. He has everything under control: trust and surrender. Gratitude isn’t about giving thanks to God when things are good – it’s about worshipping Him through pain, confusion, and uncertainty.
If you read my book, Faithful Autoimmune Remission, you will see my journey, struggle and surrender to God. Spoiler alert: God has everything under control even when your life is turned upside down. In my case, he needed to flip nearly everything in my life to get my attention and set me on a different path with a new direction. That’s why I’m here, writing this blog. His plan is so much better than mine and my life is much less stressful and far more fulfilling than it used to be. God used my struggle to redirect me and grow me. My life is better than before! You can read the full story here. My transformation story
Gratitude as Medicine for the Mind and Body
Gratitude doesn’t just change our mood — it literally changes our brain. Neuroscience shows that practicing gratitude activates the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, decision-making, and perspective. When we consistently focus on what we’re thankful for, we strengthen neural pathways associated with hope, resilience, and joy, while calming the amygdala, the brain’s fear and stress center. This shift helps regulate our nervous system, lowering stress hormones like cortisol and reducing the body’s fight-or-flight response. In a body already battling inflammation or autoimmune dysfunction, gratitude becomes powerful medicine — bringing us back into safety, peace, and rest. Over time, this “rewiring” trains the brain to look for goodness instead of danger, and that mindset shift supports healing not only spiritually and emotionally, but physically as well.
When “Thank You” Isn’t Enough
In Brandon Lakes Gratitude song, there is a lyric that says “I could sing these songs as I often do… every song must end, and You never do.” God never ends and His love for you and me never ends. Living a life of gratitude is not about words, but about a way of living. It’s a choice.
How are you living out your gratitude? Not just saying it, but showing it?
Gratitude in the Waiting
You may be in pain, living with chronic illness, still looking for healing. Gratitude doesn’t deny suffering — it strengthens us through it. You and I have a choice. The choice to choose a shift in thinking from “Why me, God?” to “What are You teaching me here?”
Healing can happen in community. I encourage you to reflect on who you are thankful for and reach out to them this week.
Gratitude as Worship, Not Performance
Brandon Lake’s Gratitude song is raw and real — that authenticity is powerful. Gratitude doesn’t need to be pretty or perfect. God isn’t after polished words — He desires honest hearts.
I encourage you to listen to the Gratitude song HERE. Spend a few quiet moments reflecting and surrendering. Acknowledge that as much as you’d like to be in control, you are not. Only our sovereign God is. I am only a fake imitation when I think I’m in control of my life. I learned that through my own healing journey. His plan for my life is better than I could imagine. I surrender to His better plan. This removes stress and allows me to be at peace since I’m not in charge but only along for the ride as I put Him in the driver’s seat. The passenger seat is the best!
Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!
In love and health,
Terri
