Blessings

Isaiah 43:1-3

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you."

Over the past two years it has become very real to me to know that true blessings in our lives are not tangible, material things that we often think we need, want and hope for. Blessings are not even the absence of troubles and sorrows. Instead, it has been my deep experience during this past season to know that the true blessing in life is the promised presence of God with us in the midst of adversity. His Word and it's abundant Truth for eternity, and for my heart today, is a true blessing far more abundant than the passing wishes we often waste our dandelions on.

In the passage above it is a comfort to know that God is with us when we go through waters and fires. It is a comfort to know that though we will face trials (James 1:2, John 16:33), we will not be overwhelmed or consumed because of God's great love for us. This is His blessing.

I am a morning person. I love mornings. Really!

However, there have been times in the past two years where I have agonized waking up each morning because of the deep terror, sadness, and grief washing over me. As I walked through those fires and waters I know that God was with us. Those times are painfully beautiful to me now.

I woke up this morning with prayers on my heart for a friend whose home contains anxiety, fear, exhaustion, and sometimes grief as they journey through older child adoption. This is their deep season of trials, and yet God is their abundant blessing. My heart poured out for them prayers of God's faithfulness, provision, restoration, and joy in this season, knowing how much I love them and how God will not consume them because of His great love for them.

My alarm turns on each morning to the local Christian radio station and I was surprised to hear the lyrics to the song below and I have turned them over in my mind today several times. I hope they are an encouragement as you seek Christ as your true blessing today...

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

All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
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 raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

And 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 raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And 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?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?