Tag Archives: Blessings

Blessing through difficulties

Leave a reply

 

There is a blessing hidden in every trial in life but you have to be willing to open your heart to see them. – Unknown

 

This devotional from Life Action Ministries offers a simple and good reminder about looking for the blessings found in difficult times.

 

Can God Bless with Trials?

 

Interpreting life’s events can be a tricky undertaking. Our instinct is to assume that if something bad happens, it’s because God is displeased with us. We then go on what I call a wild hunt for sin—that desperate search for whatever we’ve done to bring on our calamity.

 

To be sure, sin will bring with it trials (Proverbs 13:15). The problem is, trials don’t necessarily indicate that sin is present.

 

James refers to “the testing of your faith” in James 1:3. Think about those very words: faith (a good thing) being tested by the events of life. In other words, God responds to something good He sees in our life by sending trials to grow it.

 

One of the greatest challenges of the Christian life is learning to embrace the trials God sends our way as gifts from Him. We use so much energy trying to escape or fight the tough situations we face, that we fail to see they have actually been given to us by God.

 

Are you going through a trial? Ask God for wisdom as to its source. According to James 1:5, God will liberally and graciously answer.

 

What is the greatest trial you are facing right now? Whether it is caused by sin or testing, the Spirit will specifically show you if you sincerely ask for wisdom. If it is testing, take time to thank God for His commitment to your life in giving you this trial.

 

BT: Of course, we know all this. I think the real question is not, Can God bless us with trials? The real question for me is, “Will I LET God bless me through trials?” Or will we let our frustrations get in the way? Isn’t it time to let God have His way in us…for our own good?

 

 

Unexpected blessings

Leave a reply

Laura Story’s beautiful song, “Blessings,” is about how the trials of this life often speak to God’s mercies in disguise.
It is about being able to worship even when life is hard and certain that no matter what comes around the next bend, there will be an incredible view. It is for each of us in whatever breaks our heart, whatever brings us to wait on God’s answer to our prayers.

I firmly believe that there ARE blessings that come through raindrops and healing that comes only through tears. In this journey with leukemia, I have found that God’s answer to prayer is sometimes different than I would have expected or chosen, but it is still plenty good. And there is also great blessing to be found in our drawing ever closer to God, and to each other, as we wait for that answer.

May your blessings, even if they come as raindrops, bring you hope like an anchor, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19) as you wait.

You can listen to “Blessings” here and read the lyrics below:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blessings/id429376000

“Blessings” by Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It’s not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise