2 Chronicles 20:10–12, 14–17, 20–22, 29–30 Offers profound insight into Defiant Gratitude: Staying Thankful When Life Hurts.
Thanksgiving usually paints a picture of abundance where there’s tables groaning with turkey and pie, families smiling while sitting around the food, and blessings counted one by one. But if we’re honest, sometimes the holiday table is more complicated than that. Family tensions bubble up. Old wounds resurface. Someone brings up politics or the past, and suddenly that warm gratitude turns into a cold knot in your stomach.
So, what do you do when Thanksgiving feels less like “gratitude around the table” and more like a “battle field”? How do you practice defiant gratitude then? You know, the kind of thanksgiving that stands firm when life hurts and nothing makes sense?
Believe it or not, the Old Testament gives us a surprising answer. In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat of Judah finds himself staring down a battle he cannot win. And tucked into his story is a powerful lesson about giving thanks anyway, not after the victory comes, but before it.
A Battle on the Horizon
Jehoshaphat receives word that a vast army of Moabites and Ammonites are marching toward him. Not just threatening, but already on the way, which is closer than he thought.
Now, if you or I were in his shoes, our first instinct might be panic. Fight or flight. Fear or fury. But Jehoshaphat does something remarkable:
“Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah, and they gathered to seek help from the Lord.” (2 Chron. 20:3–4)
Instead of rushing to war plans and gathering weapons, he fell to his knees and called his people to prayer and fasting. Mercy, I wonder how long he’d survive having no food at Thanksgiving?!? Talk about an all-out-war would break out if I invited everyone to my house and said, today we’re fasting. There’s no food, Ha-ha!). But don’t miss the key point here! They gathered to seek help from the Lord.
In his prayer, Jehoshaphat reminded the people of three things:
- God’s past faithfulness—victories already won.
- God’s promises—what He had spoken to His people.
- The present reality—“We are powerless. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (v. 12).
That verse could be a Thanksgiving prayer for many of us needing help: “Lord, I don’t know what to do. I feel powerless in this situation. But my eyes are on You.” That’s what defiant gratitude sounds like, choosing worship in the face of uncertainty and staying thankful even when life hurts. Believe me, I completely understand what it means to feel this way. To read more about some of my physical struggles, click here.
A Word from the Lord
While Judah stood in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord came upon a man named Jahaziel. God’s message was clear and simple:
- Don’t be afraid.
- Stand firm.
- Watch God work.
“The battle is not yours, but God’s,” Jahaziel declared (v. 15).
What a relief! They didn’t have to fight to earn victory. They only had to trust, obey, and watch the Lord do what only He could do.
That same call echoes in our lives today. When we’re walking into strained family gatherings, facing health battles, navigating financial pressures, or carrying hidden grief, God whispers: Don’t fear. Stand still. Watch Me work.
Singing into the Storm
The next morning, Jehoshaphat and the people rose early to march out. But they didn’t begin with a war cry. They began with a worship song.
Jehoshaphat appointed singers to go ahead of the army. Their “battle cry” was gratitude:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithful love endures forever!” (v. 21)
Picture that for a moment. Instead of “Eye of the Tiger” pumping through the speakers, they stepped onto the battlefield singing a hymn of worship. Instead of clashing swords, they lifted thankful hearts.
And as they worshiped, something miraculous happened: the Lord Himself set an ambush against their enemies. Confusion spread. Panic broke out. Their enemies turned on each other and destroyed themselves. Judah never lifted a sword. They only lifted a song.
That’s defiant gratitude in action. It’s praising before deliverance, worshiping before breakthrough, giving thanks when nothing makes sense. This is exactly how you stay thankful when life hurts or doesn’t make sense.
From Battle to Blessing
When the dust settled, the enemies lay defeated. Verse 29 says, “The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms… and the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on every side.”
The result of trusting, thanking, and worshiping God was peace. Rest. Victory without striving.
Isn’t that what we long for this Thanksgiving? Not just a peaceful meal, but peace in our hearts? Not just a full table, but a soul at rest?
Thanksgiving Lessons from Jehoshaphat
So what does Jehoshaphat’s story teach us as we head into Thanksgiving week, especially if we want to live with defiant gratitude?
1. Put away fear and discouragement.
Fear keeps us from gratitude. Worry whispers that God won’t come through. But the command was clear: “Do not be afraid or discouraged.” Instead of focusing on what might go wrong, fix your gaze on what God has already done.
2. Position yourself before God.
Jehoshaphat positioned the people in prayer, fasting, and worship. This Thanksgiving, position your own heart by bowing before God first. Before you cook the turkey, set the table, or brace for family drama, let’s bend our knees in prayer.
3. Stand still and watch God work.
We like to control. We want to fix. But Jehoshaphat was told to stand still. Some battles aren’t ours to fight. Some burdens aren’t ours to carry. Step back, and let God show you what only He can do.
4. Give thanks in the middle, not just the end.
Notice when Judah sang. It wasn’t after the victory. It was before. Their thanksgiving was a declaration of trust. Likewise, you may not see the breakthrough yet, but you can give thanks anyway. Gratitude in the waiting honors God just as much as gratitude in the winning.
Thanksgiving at the Table
So let’s bring this home. Imagine you’re at your Thanksgiving table this year. Perhaps there’s tension in the air, or your health is fragile and finances are a little tight. Or maybe your heart is heavy and you’re grieving someone who isn’t sitting there anymore. (If so, I am so so sorry for your loss. I pray God comforts you in your grief and sorrow).
But think about this for a second. What if we chose defiant gratitude and not let fear or discouragement over take us this year? Instead, let’s whisper together: “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You”? And help our hearts to sing, not literally out loud at the turkey table (unless you’re brave!) but with a joyful spirit, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever”? If you choose to sing anyways, then, friend, I’m belting an off-key tune with you because defiant gratitude means being thankful regardless of whatever circumstances we may be in. We totally got this!
The same God who fought for Jehoshaphat fights for you. The same God who turned a battlefield into a blessing can turn your situation into peace.
Defiant Gratitude
This Thanksgiving, let’s resolve to live out Jehoshaphat’s battle plan:
- Seek God first.
- Stand firm in faith.
- Sing gratitude before the breakthrough.
Because when we do, we discover what Jehoshaphat discovered: the battle is not ours but it belongs to the Lord. And the fruit of that trust is rest, peace, and a thanksgiving that lasts far beyond one holiday meal.
So pass the turkey, pour the gravy, and practice defiant gratitude: staying thankful when life hurts, and nothing makes sense. Let’s choose to be blessed and be a blessing this year! Gobble-gobble.
Happy Thanksgiving,
💛 Dee
This Thanksgiving, don’t just count your blessings, but step into a lifestyle of Defiant Gratitude: Staying Thankful When Life Hurts. If this message encouraged you, I’d love for you to join me on the journey. Subscribe to deehumphrey.com for monthly hope-filled encouragement, biblical insights, and resources to help you keep walking forward in faith. Together, let’s learn to give thanks anyway.
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