A Prayer for Peace This Thanksgiving
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7
Listen or Read Below:
Thanksgiving is a holiday known for time with loved ones, home cooking, and thankfulness. While most of us understand Thanksgiving is rooted in thankfulness, sometimes we can lose sight of this when times are hard. Whether we are dealing with stressful family members or our own personal struggles on Thanksgiving, we often struggle to be genuinely thankful. Every person can go around the table and say what they are grateful for, but are our hearts really in it?
Some people have personal issues that steal their peace and thankfulness during the holiday season, while others might have family issues that come to a head around these gatherings. Every person’s struggle is unique to them, and they are all hard.
Maybe a stressful family member is stealing your peace this Thanksgiving because they are going to ask you why you aren't married yet, why your weight has changed, or why you haven’t bought your own house yet. Don’t allow your difficult family member to steal your joy this Thanksgiving season. Choose to turn to the Lord, ask for His strength, and conduct yourself in a manner worthy of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:27). If he or she says something unwarranted, return their evil with goodness (Romans 12:21).
In the same way, if personal struggles are preventing you from having peace this Thanksgiving, talk over your concerns with a therapist or a doctor. Talking with them ahead of time will equip you with the tools and resources that you need to overcome these struggles. For example, if your personal struggle is facing all of your family members after going through a divorce, talk with a therapist as well as a few family members in advance. This can help you prepare for Thanksgiving by cultivating a heart of peace in the days leading up to the actual holiday.
The Apostle Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). As Paul says here, we need to present all of our concerns to God, and His peace will wash over us.
This is true not only for Thanksgiving Day, but also for every other day of the year. Turn to the Lord and pray for His peace to wash over you. Give all of your worries, stressors, and concerns over to Him. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day of celebration, thankfulness, and love—not a day of fear, worry, and stress. Don’t allow your peace to be taken away anymore. Jesus has given you peace, and it is yours forever..
Let’s Pray:
Dear Jesus,
This Thanksgiving is causing me to develop many worries, stresses, and concerns. I’m choosing to give all of these troubles over to You. I’m tired of carrying them by myself as they are stealing my peace and my joy.
Please cover me with Your peace and help my heart to be calm. Your peace is better than life itself, and I know it won’t ever fail me. I lift my heart and voice in thankfulness to You today, Lord. Help me to remember that I can always come to You, regardless of the time of year.
Amen.
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Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Drazen Zigic
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Originally published Wednesday, 26 November 2025.
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