We have allowed society to structure our minds into thinking that blessings are only present if we have riches and opportunity. Materialism rules us. We believe that taking steps backwards, losing a job or getting an unfavourable diagnosis are the opposite of a blessing. But what does God say? What blueprint has the Bible laid out for us in this area?

We read of Paul – was he really blessed while in prison? We think of Job -my word that man experienced loss and blessings in such deep and drastic stages. What about Jesus? Did he have to be brutally murdered to bring forth the biggest blessing of all?

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

When I lost my healthcare career due to Covid restrictions after 10 years in the field and 6 years of studies, it felt like the opposite of a blessing. Yet it pushed me into three years of being a stay at home mother where I could watch my children grow up. Me choosing to walk away would have been so difficult, but being forced to walk away? A Blessing. When we sold our big home due to my husband’s health and moved into a condo 1/4 the size, many looked at us like we had gone backwards in success. But to us it became another blessing that brought us a decrease in physical and financial stress and allowed our family dynamics to shift so that we were present raising our kids and didn’t have a daycare or school system raising them instead. The world around us felt sorry for us while we felt blessed.

When our eyes are fixed on what the world says is a blessing, we are made to feel like we are constantly falling short. We work harder for material things, we become selective of friendships and chase status, we leave no room for God’s blessings. But when we focus our eyes on the Word and open our lives to God’s blessings, we begin to experience His goodness in ways the world cannot accept or understand. Those are the blessings our hearts should be pursuing.

Matthew 5:3-12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

 Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father, open our eyes to see the blessings You have brought into our lives through difficult moments. Where society sees loss and failure, let us see Your hand and provisions. Where society tells us to strive, reminder our spirit to be at rest with the season and path You have us on. Lord, help us to fix our eyes on You, nothing else but You. May the temptations of our flesh and this world fall away as we pursue Your heart and Your plans for our lives. Where we have fear of loss and failure, we surrender those thoughts and emotions to You. We thank you for those that went ahead of us, showing us to not fear loss and to trust in Your unwavering love and kindness towards us. You are so worthy of our sacrifice, do not allow my spirit to forget the blessings You have poured on me. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.