I’m blessed. God’s Word says it, His Spirit confirms it, but sometimes I don’t feel like it.
My pocket doesn’t show it, my job doesn’t show it, most things around me don’t show it, and since they don’t show it I oftentimes don’t feel like it.
Sometimes I don’t feel blessed!
Remember Mary? Jesus’ mother. She was blessed–an angel told her so:
“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among woman…Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His Name Jesus.” [1]
But isn’t funny she was favored and still had unfavorable circumstances:
- She was the point of gossip.
- Her boyfriend nearly divorced her.
- She traveled through the desert in the blazing heat on the back of a camel.
- She ended up at a barn where she gave birth.
- She was forced to put her newborn baby in a manger–a trough for feeding cows.
- She had to wrap the baby in swaddling cloth– milk rags for cows.
That doesn’t sound blessed to me. Does that sound like “highly favored” to you?
So what is the answer?
The answer is found in the concept of blessing: a blessing speaks to the end of thing.
We need to always keep that in mind.
Being blessed means that all minor afflictions are preparation for a greater end; blessings prepare us to become the person we need to be. So, in that respect, we’re all blessed.
Know this: everything in your life up to this point has been preparing you for a great end. Your path is “as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” [2]
He’s getting you ready…and deep down…you always knew that yourself. And one day you’ll be able to say to Him, “My troubles turned out all for the best— they forced me to learn from Your Textbook.” [3]
Be blessed!
- Luke 1: 28; 30-31 (New Kings James Version)
- Proverbs 4:18 (King James Version)
- Psalms 119:71 (The Message)
