How to Experience God’s Peace When Life Feels Rushed and Overwhelming

As November sweeps across our calendars and the talk turns to Thanksgiving, it’s easy to think you’re just heading for a day with family, maybe some pie, and a few shared prayers. But what if this season of gratitude could plant something deeper in your heart—something that sets the groundwork for the wonder of Advent? Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas. It’s a time to wait with hope for Christ’s coming. When you let thankfulness take root, you create a heart that’s ready to receive the fullness of that hope.

Why Gratitude Matters in Hard Seasons

When life falls apart, it's easy to focus on what’s missing or broken. Your mind starts circling the pain like a vulture. Yet, the Bible calls you to a radically different response.

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18, WEB)

How can you be a light for Christ when the world outside seems a little dimmer? Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 (WEB), “Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

I’ll never forget a chilly October Saturday when I felt pressed to check on a neighbor down the street. She’d lost her husband that summer. I brought her a batch of warm cookies and a short note. We sat on her porch and talked as the light faded. She told me that simple visit reminded her she wasn’t alone. It was a small thing, but the warmth lingered long after the last bite..