Why America Has Every Reason to Give Thanks

This Thanksgiving, as families gather across our great nation, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for God's goodness, for His mercy, and for the extraordinary privilege of living in the greatest country on earth. From the mountains of Montana to the red clay roads of Alabama, Americans will bow their heads around dinner tables, offering thanks to a God who has blessed us beyond measure. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

We are blessed, truly blessed, to live in a nation where peace still surrounds our homes and communities. In a world shaken by wars, unrest, and deep uncertainty, we wake up each morning with a sense of stability that most nations only dream of. "The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace" (Psalm 29:11). Peace is not something we earn. Peace is something God grants, and we thank Him for it.

This Thanksgiving, our prayers stretch far beyond our own borders. We pray for continued peace in the Middle East, a region so close to the heart of Scripture and so often marked by turmoil. The Bible calls us plainly: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you" (Psalm 122:6). And so we pray that God will bring calm to that land, protect the innocent, guard the people of Israel, strengthen those who seek reconciliation, and guide leaders with wisdom from above.

We pray for the day when children in the Middle East can know the same peace that American children enjoy as they run and laugh in their neighborhoods. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). May God raise up peacemakers in every nation.

And what a gift it is to live in a country where freedom is not merely written on paper. It is lived out every day. We can speak our minds. We can disagree openly. We can worship without fear. Around the world, there are believers who whisper their prayers in secret, but here in America, we can lift our voices boldly. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17).

This Thanksgiving, let us celebrate the incredible blessing of being able to express diverse opinions, political, cultural, and spiritual, without worrying that government forces will come knocking on our door. Only a nation confident in liberty and rooted in truth can welcome such open expression.

This Thanksgiving, we must also pause to honor the brave men and women of our military, who serve with courage so that we may enjoy peace at home. Their sacrifice is a gift to every American family gathered at the table today. We thank God for them and ask His protection over each one.

Let us also lift up President Donald J. Trump and the leaders serving in the Senate and House of Representatives. The decisions before them carry immense weight, and their leadership shapes the future for generations to come. May God grant them wisdom, clarity, humility, and courage. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all" (James 1:5).

And this Thanksgiving, let us pray not just for revival, but thank God for the revival already beginning. I believe He is stirring hearts across this nation. Families are returning to faith. Churches are gathering with renewed passion. People are remembering that our hope comes not from government but from God alone. "If My people who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray... I will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

We are one nation, diverse in our opinions, united in our freedom, and strengthened by our faith. From our peaceful suburbs to our shining cities, from small town America to the great farmlands that feed the world, this nation reflects the goodness of a Creator who has poured out blessings upon us.

So this Thanksgiving, rejoice. Celebrate the blessings you see and those still on the way. Thank God for peace. Thank God for freedom. Thank God for family. And thank God for the United States of America, a nation He has guided from its birth, and a nation whose best days are still ahead.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1).

Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a former state representative, a current member of the Alabama Republican Executive Committee, the 2016 Trump Victory Chair, and a widely published columnist on Alabama politics.

Opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Alabama Gazette staff or publishers.