Why Thanksgiving?

Updated: December 2, 2025

Here in the United States we have a special day in November dedicated to giving thanks. Back in 1789, our first president George Washington (with the approval of Congress) made a “Thanksgiving proclamation,” designating a “day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” It went on to detail all the blessings the new country had enjoyed before and since the nation was born.

It is clear from this proclamation (and the overwhelming majority of their other writing) that our Founders shared a lasting, common gratitude directed squarely at God. They believed that it was He Who brought victory in the Revolutionary War, and that it was He Who gave our nation the amazing prosperity that it enjoyed afterward. This is perfectly aligned with the message of the Bible. This message is that God is good and that He is the Author of all that is good. So isn’t He worthy of a lot of gratitude?

God does not expect us to thank Him for things that didn’t come from Him. Do not be deceived: Evil and evil things do not come from God. If you are having trouble grasping this, think about what Jesus – God in the flesh – considered evil. It is written that Jesus, before His crucifixion, went around doing good, not evil. He did not go around putting cancer on people, stealing money, lying, or do anything else that a normal person would consider “evil.” He was healing, encouraging, and preaching faith to everyone. Consider the ancient Bible book of Job also, where it was Satan causing all of Job’s troubles, not God. (See also Why Job?) So let’s give thanks to the Lord for all the good things in our lives! Every single day we have reasons to thank Him.
(James 1:13-18, Acts 10:38, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 Timothy 2:1, Romans 1:21-22, Psalm 107)