If all the things that God gave me in this world were taken away, would I still refer to myself as blessed?
We all like to use the phrase “I am well and blessed,” don’t we? This week I as I was wondering what to share about, I began to ponder that word – blessed. What makes me blessed? Is it the abundance of material things, good health, or a loving family? If all these things were taken away today, would I still refer to myself as a blessed person?
Interestingly, the Bible talks about blessings, the act of blessing and being a blessed individual quite often. I found, however, that three things stood out for me as concerns the word blessed and my life as a Christian. Keep reading – this is a real eye-opener.
1. I am blessed when I trust in the Lord
How easy is it to trust in the Lord? Not easy at all, if you ask me. There is always someone or something more easily accessible for me to trust in than the Lord. Also, there is that little voice that speaks to me now and again – that voice called fear, together with its twin brother unbelief. When these two little guys start a conversation inside my head, trust in God flies out the window!
Why, then should I trust in the Lord, anyway? Simple – because I will be blessed if I do so.
Jeremiah 17: 7-8 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (NLT)
If the words above are not motivation enough to trust in the Lord, I don’t know what else is! If I trust in the Lord, I will be like a tree planted next to a river that never dries up, and I will flourish, unlike those who do not trust in the Lord.
What kind of trust is being referred to here? A trust that abandons itself to the Lord, letting him nourish, quench, satisfy and sustain. The result of this kind of trust is a life that blossoms even in the driest and hottest of seasons – a life that is blessed.
2. I am blessed when I take refuge in the Lord
Just like there are lots of things and people to trust in, there are lots of places to take refuge!
What does it mean to take refuge? Taking refuge means finding a safe place to hide, a place where you are totally hidden away from danger. For example, during a rainstorm, a tree is not exactly the best place to take refuge, because you are not completely hidden away from the cold, driving rain.
How do we take refuge in the Lord? First, let me say that there are times I have ‘allegedly’ taken refuge in the Lord, but one eye still keeps watch to make sure all is well on the outside. Sometimes I even leave my legs out in the open so that I can make a run for it if I need to! Taking refuge in the Lord, however, means that every inch of my body, mind, and heart are safely hidden away in Him.
How, then, does taking refuge in the Lord make me blessed? Well, once I decide to ‘hide’ myself in him, I have nothing more to worry about because he takes charge of everything! When I decide to hide under his wings, I receive the blessing of peace and rest, as I enjoy the comfort and safety of his presence.
Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (NIV)
You may be reading this and wondering whether there are really any blessings that come from hiding in God. I can confidently say that there are, because once you hide in God, you effectively let him take charge of whatever is oppressing you. He handles everything as you chill out in his presence, because he is good!
3. I am blessed when I walk in the Lord’s ways
Psalm 119:1-2 “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart – they do no wrong but follow his ways.” (NIV)
Okay – the verses above do not seem to list any benefits of being blessed for us, do they? It’s almost like God is the one who benefits, yet we are the ones who are referred to as blessed. These verses, therefore, are a clear indication that blessings are not always material or physical!
What, then, is the blessing of living a blameless life and obeying the Lord’s statutes? The blessing is simple, yet profound – you will do no wrong.
Is it a blessing to do no wrong? Yes, it is, considering the state in which the world is right now. There is a huge push to do what works for us and what feels right, rather than what God wants. Being able to obey the Lord and please him as you do so is a real blessing indeed.
Then comes the next question – how do we obey God’s laws and keep his statutes? We do so by seeking him with all our hearts and immersing ourselves in his word. I like to think of the Bible as a beautiful narrative that gives us insight into who God is – what pleases him, his nature, his commands, etc. Whenever I open its precious pages, there is something new to learn about the Lord on each page.
Let me share an example at this point. Every parent will tell you that every time a child is born, a new learning experience begins. There are moments of trying to figure when the baby will sleep, what the baby enjoys eating the most, who their favorite nanny or teacher is, what colors they like, etc. Now, the parent does not always get some form of physical blessing or reward from all this, but still feels blessed because of the rich learning experience that brings parent and child closer together.
In the same way, as we spend more time reading God’s word, we get to know more about him and our relationship with Him begins to grow. With time, as we desire to know him more and more, and our relationship with the Lord leads us to the point where we start to understand what pleases him. As a result, doing wrong becomes more difficult as it is in direct conflict with what lives in our hearts – God’s word.
Oh, how I wish I could know God more through his word; his precious, life-giving word, then I would be less inclined to do wrong, and more inclined to do what pleases him. Being able to obey God’s commands, walk in his ways and seek him with all my heart is a blessing in itself. I am blessed!
Dear friends, thanks again for stopping by and reading this week’s article. I truly hope that you now have a different perspective about being blessed. Please share your thoughts and comments in the comments section below, and don’t forget to share this article with your family and friends! Have a blessed week ahead!