WMA: We Are So Blessed

By Jackie Ricks

My husband and I listen to gospel music whenever we’re in the car and often at home. Yesterday, driving alone, I sang along with “We Are So Blessed” and realized what I needed to write for this blog. So many times, we forget how truly blessed we are. Many people think of it around Thanksgiving time or after things work out the way they want.

This week, a good friend of mine is dealing with a grand baby who has been diagnosed with cancer. I really can’t imagine what that family is going through. But I know we serve a mighty God who doesn’t make mistakes. He is with the baby and all the family and will see them through no matter what happens.

Another friend has been without a job or a car or cannot drive for several months due to a health issue. She’s been looking for work at home and trying to be strong. To top it off, she’s a new Christian and doesn’t understand yet how God sometimes allows trials to come our way to make us stronger. I don’t know what I’d do if I were stuck at home all day with no way to go anywhere or even able to pick up things from the store. She must rely on others until her husband gets home. Then he’s tired from work and really doesn’t want to run errands.

How many times have you possibly been like me? Although I recognize I’m blessed, I often look at the nitty-gritty details of daily life and complain instead of looking at the big picture and seeing how much God has blessed my family and me. So, instead of others hearing about how awesome God is and Him receiving the glory for every good thing, I complain about all the little nagging things that drive me crazy. What kind of picture does that send the world? What kind of legacy does that leave?

Sometimes, we get so caught up in our problems that we don’t remember God is the One in control. He always wants (and knows) what’s best for us. We may complain about our problems and think God has forgotten us. However, He always has our best interest in mind because He can see the big picture. We need to allow others to see that we have the faith to persevere and learn patience and endurance when being tested. That’s how we grow stronger.

My great-grandson is a powerlifter in high school. For his weight, he can lift an amazing amount. However, he didn’t do it all in one day. He’s been lifting weights and getting stronger over several years. He didn’t start with big weights but gradually added them. As such, he now can lift 2-4 times his weight at a time, depending on how the lift is done. If he had continued to lift the same amount all the time, he would never be able to lift what he does now. Similarly, the trials that we have help us to increase our spiritual strength. Then, God sends a little heavier trial to show us that we can handle it if we rely on Him. That’s the good thing — God is actually the One who takes care of each problem when we have faith in Him to take care of us.

If you think about it, God has been preparing you all your life. Children have their own child-size problems. Once they work through those, they’re better able to handle the bigger problems of teens, young adulthood and so on. Some people don’t ever learn how to rely on God, but instead, they either fall apart or expect parents, spouse or some other person to solve everything. Or they mess everything up trying to come up with their own bad solutions repeatedly.

It isn’t easy. It takes a lot of prayer, Bible study, more prayer, helpful Christian friends, prayer again and time. I like the song “Through It All” because it reminds us that without our problems, we’d never realize that God can solve them. We just need to trust Him completely and then thank Him because we really are so blessed. We need to remember to tell our families and others just how blessed we are and how Jesus is why things work out in our lives. It isn’t luck or coincidence or our own abilities. It’s always God. Give Him the glory.

Scripture — Psalm 34:8; 119:2; Matt. 6:25-34; I Thess. 5:18; James 1:2-12

Prayer — “Thank You, Lord, that You know exactly what I need when I need it. Your timing is perfect. Please help me never take Your blessings for granted. And help me to share that with others for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Response — First, think back over your life and recognize times when God helped you through situations. Then, think about how those times made you stronger for another problem that may have come later. Thank Him and continue to rely on God to help you through each daily situation. Remember, you are so blessed.

— These articles are shared via the National WMA web page blog that can be accessed at nationalwma.org/blogs.