Pastor Harry’s Thoughts for November

“The Power of a Grateful Heart”

“The Power of a Grateful Heart” “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

As we enter the month of November, a month so often wrapped in the language of gratitude, I’m reminded that thanks giving is more than a holiday—it’s a way of life. True gratitude doesn’t come from what we have, but from Who holds us. It’s easy to say “thank You, Lord” when life feels good and the blessings are obvious. But Scripture tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” That’s not always easy, is it? Because gratitude isn’t natural when the job is uncertain, when the doctor’s report isn’t good, or when the future feels unclear. Yet that’s exactly where gratitude becomes most powerful.

When I think about that kind of faith-filled gratitude, my mind turns to a young missionary named Jim Elliot. In the ear ly 1950s, Jim and four other men felt God’s call to take the gospel to the Auca tribe in the jungles of Ecuador—a people known for their isolation and hostility toward outsiders. Everyone warned them it was too dangerous, that they were throwing away their lives. But Jim’s response was simple: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Those words weren’t just a clever saying; they were the conviction of a man whose heart beat with gratitude to God— even in risk, even in sacrifice.

Jim Elliot and his team built a small airstrip and began reaching out with gifts, kindness, and the message of Christ. For a brief moment, it seemed their prayers were being answered—until one day, without warning, all five men were speared to death on the riverbank by the very people they came to save. To the world, it looked like a tragedy. But to heaven, it was a testimony.

Because what followed changed everything. Instead of anger or vengeance, the wives of those missionaries—including Jim’s wife, Elisabeth Elliot—chose forgiveness. They chose gratitude even in heartbreak, trusting that somehow God’s hand was still at work. Elisabeth later went back into that same jungle, lived among the same people, and led many of them—including the very men who killed her husband—to Christ. That’s the power of a grateful heart. It refuses to let pain have the final word.

Gratitude doesn’t ignore reality; it reframes it through the eyes of faith. It says, “Lord, even here—especially here—I will trust You.” Jim’s life reminds us that gratitude isn’t about comfort or convenience. It’s about surrender. It’s about believing that every moment—whether in joy or in sorrow—is a chance to reflect the goodness of God. Gratitude turns our hearts from what we’ve lost to what we’ve been given, from what’s uncertain to what’s eternal.

So this November, as families gather around tables and thank God for another year, let’s not let gratitude stop at the sur face. Let’s let it go deeper. Let’s learn to thank God not only for what we understand, but in what we don’t. Because eve ry time we choose gratitude, we choose to live by faith. Jim Elliot didn’t know how his story would end—but he trusted the Author. And so can we.

Whatever this month holds—whether joy or struggle, abundance or waiting—remember this: A grateful heart will al ways find God’s hand.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever.”

— Psalm 100:4–5 Happy Thanksgiving,

Pastor Harry & Jennifer