Date posted: 11-18-2025
It’s amazing how quickly people can forget where they come from. For example, in just a few generations, America has gone from seeing Thanksgiving as a sacred celebration of God’s faithfulness to treating it as little more than a day for football and turkey—or worse, a symbol of oppression and colonialism. Sadly, even many conservatives have started to adopt the world’s narrative, repeating revisionist ideas about the Pilgrims and early America that simply aren’t true.
That’s what happens when we let the world—not the Word—shape our worldview: the truth gets lost in the process. The left has been working for decades to rewrite the story of our nation, stripping away the evidence of God’s hand in its founding. They’ve turned heroes of faith into villains and gratitude into guilt. But if we forget the true story of Thanksgiving, we lose one of the greatest lessons America ever taught the world: that a thankful heart opens the door to God’s provision and blessing.
The real story of Thanksgiving isn’t about conquest—it’s about covenant. The Pilgrims came to these shores not to exploit others but to worship God freely and build a society grounded in His Word. They faced starvation, sickness, and loss. Half their number died that first winter. Yet in the spring, they planted again, worked hard, and prayed. And when God brought a harvest, they didn’t credit their own ingenuity or luck. They lifted their hands to heaven and said, “Thank You, Lord.”
That’s the heart of Thanksgiving. It’s not about comfort or success—it’s about faith.
The Bible tells us, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). Notice it doesn’t say, “for everything,” but in everything. You don’t thank God for the sickness, hardship, or loss. He didn’t give it to you. But you do thank Him in the middle of it, because gratitude shifts your focus from the problem to the Provider. When you do that, you keep your heart grounded in truth instead of emotion.
That’s what the Pilgrims understood. Their thanksgiving wasn’t a one-time holiday—it was a way of life. And that’s what we need to rediscover today.
When a nation stops being thankful, it starts losing its way. Romans 1 describes what happens when people refuse to glorify God or give Him thanks—they become vain in their thinking, and their foolish hearts are darkened. Does that sound familiar? That’s the world we’re living in right now. We’ve traded gratitude for grievance and worship for “wokeness.”
Even some believers have fallen into the trap of feeling ashamed of America’s past, parroting the same talking points the world uses to tear down our history. But you can’t rewrite truth just because it makes you uncomfortable. The facts are clear: America was founded by imperfect people who built their laws and culture on biblical principles. The moment we forget that, we open the door for tyranny and deception.
Thanksgiving, in its truest sense, reminds us who our source is. Every blessing we enjoy—our freedom, prosperity, and opportunity—flows from God’s hand. That’s why the devil hates gratitude. A thankful heart stays humble. It resists pride and self-dependence. It recognizes that every good thing comes from above (James 1:17).
When you’re thankful, you can’t be deceived by lies that tell you you’re a victim. You won’t buy into the world’s bitterness or the left’s endless accusations against God and this nation. Gratitude grounds you in reality—it anchors you in truth.
So as Thanksgiving approaches, don’t let the noise of revisionist history or political correctness rob you of joy. Take time to remember what this holiday really means. Talk about it around your table. Read the Pilgrims’ own words of thanksgiving. Tell your children and grandchildren the real story. Because the truth is powerful—and when you pass it on, you push back against the darkness trying to overtake our culture.
The same God who carried the Pilgrims through hardship is still faithful today. He hasn’t changed. The question is, will we continue to acknowledge Him as the source of our blessings—or will we forget?
Reflection
Thankfulness is more than a feeling; it’s an act of faith. When we choose gratitude, we choose to remember God’s goodness and reject the world’s deception. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s not just count our blessings—let’s remember where they came from. The Pilgrims knew that survival without gratitude is meaningless, and freedom without faith is impossible.
This year, let’s do the same. Let’s thank God boldly, live His truth openly, and keep our hearts—and our nation—anchored in His Word. Watch this year’s Thanksgiving video here, Lift Your Eyes and Let Gratitude Rise.
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