O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:12

Most people desire to be blessed, to have favor in some area of their life. As they desire to be blessed, their definition of being blessed is having things with no troubles, pain or suffering. When there is trouble or things do not appear to go one’s desired way, people often feel as if they are not being blessed. This feeling increases when one is jealous of what someone else has or how successful someone else appears to be.

After talking about how great it is to be in God’s presence, the writer of this psalm says that the one who trusts in God is blessed.

The world sees blessings only through favor, no troubles or suffering and having material things. The more of these things a person has, the more one is blessed by the standards of the world’s view. There are some in the church who have bought into the same view as that of the world.

Believers in God should have a very different view on what it means to be blessed by God. No where in the bible did God ever promise that there will be no trouble while one is living on this planet. In fact, Jesus promised the disciples that they would have trouble.

As one believes the words of Jesus, one may wonder how one can still be blessed while having trouble. The blessings of God come in knowing that one is forgiven of all sins. It comes in knowing that this life is not all that there is, but that there is an eternal life in heaven with no more suffering or pain. Blessings are found in the peace that God gives in the midst of struggle and turmoil.

Ultimately blessings are found in trusting God, not the circumstances.

You will have troubles and struggles that appear to be larger than life. You may often wonder if you are blessed by God when going through difficult times. Put your trust in God and believe that He knows what is best for you and only allows what is best for you in every situation. Recognize how blessed you are that God forgives you of your sins and is preparing a home for you in heaven some day. Trust in the God of eternity, not the temporary things of this fallen and depraved world and you will be blessed beyond all measure.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will see how blessed you are in Christ Jesus; that you will trust God in every situation in your life; and that God will bless you in many different ways.

Picture by Nelly Vokovich on Unsplash