Created for Blessing

Posted by Elizabeth Welsh on August 3, 2010 · 27 Comments 

   Count your many blessings.  See what God has done.  Remember that song?  Is your list looking a little short today?  Perhaps you have difficult children, a difficult spouse, and/or difficult circumstances at work.  We all have days when we’re unable to see the blessings for the barrage of frustrations in our lives.

According to Genesis 1, God created and then He blessed His creation.  And He’s still blessing.  We could never count His blessings; they are far too many.  But it is good to consider them, especially when we’re not feeling very blessed.

The same Hebrew word in Genesis for bless is used in Psalm 103 for praise.  We bless God when we praise Him.  What an awesome honor.  The Bible says if we don’t praise God, the rocks will cry out.  Why would we relinquish such a privilege to a pile of rocks?

What if we’ve had a rotten day and we don’t feel like praising God?  That’s when we draw upon our faith to praise Him.  Tough times call for tenacious faith.

Years ago, when we were living in Philadelphia, I drove to Toms River, New Jersey to speak at a Christian Women’s Club.  That afternoon, I talked about giving thanks by faith, regardless of our circumstances.  When I started my drive home, it began to snow.  We didn’t have snow tires at the time and besides, I’d grown up in the south.  It couldn’t be that bad, could it?

The snow pounded the windshield and I could hardly see.  Cars were slipping and sliding and I was just shy of panic.  The man on the radio said, “Blizzard conditions.  Don’t go out tonight if you don’t have to.”  Well, I thought, that’s helpful.  Or not.

A still, small voice spoke to my racing heart.  “What were you telling all those women?  Why don’t you apply it right now?”

“Okay, God,” I answered reluctantly.  “I don’t like this situation.  I would not have ordered it for my life today, and I don’t feel thankful at all.  But you’ve told me in I Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in everything.  And you’ve promised in Romans 8:28 to work everything in my life for good.  Therefore, I’m going to thank you by faith and trust you to get me home safely.”

I continued to creep my way toward home.  Although I knew in my head God would take care of me, I had no emotional peace.  I changed the radio to a Christian station.  Someone was singing, “He won’t give you more than you can bear.  He’ll stake your name to someone in prayer.”

That moment, I knew my family was praying for me.  For the rest of the trip, I experienced a peace that truly did escape all understanding.  I almost enjoyed driving through all that snow.  When I arrived home and told Jay and the girls my story, I discovered they had been praying for me at the dinner table at precisely the same time I heard the song.

My husband says Christians don’t have problems.  We have opportunities to trust God.  Today, you may have lots of opportunities.  Use them to praise God and you will be blessed, and so will He.  Just think!  No more problems, just opportunities to bless and be blessed.   Calls for a round of praise, doesn’t it?  Go ahead; celebrate, have a party.  You’ll feel better.  I promise.  Better yet, God promises.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget none of His benefits.”    Psalm 103:1-2 NAS

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