Thanksgiving Prayer: How to Thank God When the Year Has Been Hard

Church members gathered quietly for prayer in a welcoming, modest church sanctuary

Thanksgiving can bring joy, but it can also bring up grief, worry, and memories of a difficult year. If you are carrying disappointment or loss, you do not have to pretend everything is fine to offer God a thanksgiving prayer.

Biblical gratitude is not a demand to call hardship good. It is a way of bringing our whole lives to God: the pain we still feel, the questions we still have, and the signs of His care we can remember. As Thanksgiving approaches, you can give thanks honestly, one simple prayer at a time.

Start with honesty, not forced happiness

You can tell God what this year has been like. Speak plainly about what hurt, what changed, and what you still need. A prayer does not have to sound polished to be sincere.

In A Simple Guide to Prayer: 4 Steps to Start Praying Today, we share four ways to approach prayer: Authentic, Honor, Forgive, and Faith. Authentic prayer begins with showing up as you are. That includes bringing God both your gratitude and your sadness.

You might begin with a few honest words:

“God, this year has been hard. I am thankful for Your care, but I am also grieving and tired. Please meet me here.”

You do not need to resolve every feeling before you pray. Let your prayer be a place where you can tell the truth and ask God for help.

A person praying at home beside an open Bible and a cup of tea

Give thanks for who God is

Some years leave us with fewer easy answers. In those seasons, gratitude can begin not with what went well, but with what Scripture tells us about God.

Psalm 100:4–5 invites us to enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise. It gives us reasons to give thanks: “the Lord is good” and “his love endures forever.” The psalm does not ask us to deny life’s difficulties. It points us toward God’s lasting goodness and faithfulness.

Psalm 136 repeats the reminder “His love endures forever.” Its verses remember God’s care and help, returning again and again to that steady truth. When your own words feel thin, you may find comfort in repeating the refrain slowly. Sometimes a simple sentence is enough: Your love endures forever.

Remember small mercies

Gratitude does not have to be grand. You may be thankful for a person who checked in, a meal shared, a safe place to rest, strength to get through another day, or a moment of quiet. These things do not erase loss. They are simply mercies you can name.

Try writing down three things you are grateful for. If three feels like too much, write one. You might also keep a short list of prayers answered, people who have supported you, and moments when you felt less alone.

If life feels busy or your routines have changed, our reflection on 5 Simple Steps to Grow Closer to God (Even When Life Feels Busy) offers gentle ideas for making room for God in everyday life.

Members gathered for a prayer and worship night in a local church

Pray with your requests as well as your thanks

First Thessalonians 5:18 says to “give thanks in all circumstances.” It does not say to be thankful for every painful circumstance. We can thank God while asking Him to change what is hurting, provide what is needed, and give us strength for what we cannot yet change.

Philippians 4:6–7 encourages us to bring our requests to God with thanksgiving. It also speaks of the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Prayer does not require us to hide anxiety. We can name what concerns us and ask God for help, while remembering His presence and care.

Try this simple pattern:

  1. Name what is hard. “God, I am worried about…”
  2. Ask for what you need. “Please provide, comfort, guide, or strengthen me.”
  3. Name one reason for thanks. “Thank You for the person who stood by me.”
  4. Rest in what is true. “Help me trust that Your love endures forever.”

Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” This is not a promise that every moment feels joyful. It is a choice to keep turning toward God, even when praise comes quietly or through tears.

A thanksgiving prayer for a difficult year

You can use these words as they are or make them your own:

Faithful God,
This year has held both blessings and hardship. You know what I have lost, what I fear, and what remains unresolved. Help me be honest with You and receive Your care.

Thank You for the people who have encouraged me, for the daily mercies I may overlook, and for Your love that endures forever. Please provide what I need, comfort those who are grieving, and give strength to everyone facing a difficult season.

Teach me to pray with gratitude without pretending that everything is easy. Guard my heart and mind with Your peace, and help me trust You one day at a time.

Amen.

You can also read what to look for in a Bible teaching church if you are seeking a place to grow in Scripture, prayer, and fellowship.

Find encouragement in a local church community

You do not have to carry a hard season by yourself. A local church community can make room for prayer, worship, friendship, and practical care. If you are looking for a Christian church in Gary, Indiana, Prayer Tower Fellowship Church welcomes you to join us in person or online.

Our Thursday gathering is a prayer and worship night centered on prayer, encouragement, and growing together in faith. Whether you come with gratitude, questions, or a need for prayer, you are welcome.

Join us at Prayer Tower Fellowship Church

  • Sunday Worship Service: Every Sunday at 12:00 PM CST, in person or online
  • Thursday Night Prayer: Every Thursday at 7:00 PM CST
  • Family & Friends Day: Every fourth Sunday
  • New Life Conference: Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 3:00 PM
    Hosted by Pastor Rachel Collins, with speaker Prophetess Deborah Allen of Detroit, Michigan
  • Conversations Around The Table food drive: Every second Sunday, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM
    Bring a valid ID. You may sign up for assistance, donate, or volunteer.

Prayer Tower Fellowship Church volunteers preparing food for neighbors in Gary, Indiana

Conversations Around The Table is one way neighbors, volunteers, donors, and community partners support local families together. If you need assistance, would like to lend a hand, or have a question, please contact us. We are grateful to everyone who helps make this shared care possible.

Prayer Tower Fellowship Church
Address: 4595 W. 29th Ave, Gary, IN 46404
Phone: (219) 249-0915
Website: ptfcministries.com
Serving Gary since: 1982

This Thanksgiving, may your prayer be honest and your gratitude gentle. You can bring God the whole story of your year, trusting that His love endures forever.

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