When Our Blessings Don't Seem Like Blessings

I've been struggling lately with the idea of all these "blessings" that I have, and how I just really don't understand why I should call them blessings.  They hurt, they're  really hard, they're painful, and I just don't feel like praising the Lord for them.  I know there is a purpose for everything that we have been through, and everything that we go through.  However, it's much harder to live that out than it is to simply say it.  It's easy to put on this face that makes everyone think you're such a great Christian because you smile in times of sorrow and pain, saying it's OK because God is sovereign over it all. 

God has been teaching me something incredibly important over the last few days.  A great Christian doesn't pretend to have it all together.  They let other see where they struggle, where they need help, where they are completely weak, and where they don't actually have it all together.  Why do we, as Christians, think that God is glorified when we act like we have this whole thing figured out?  As I am writing this, I am staring at a picture I have with the following verse:

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

How many times have you read this verse, or quoted it to someone else?  Now how many times have you actually taken the time to study what this means in your own life?  I've had this verse by my bed for almost a year, yet I fail miserably at living it out.  I think the best way to glorify God is to make others see how much better life is with Him in control of my life and Spirit.  

This is a great intention, but because of my sinfulness, I fail horribly at executing it.  I tell others about all the wonderful "blessings" He has given me, whether that be my family, my job, my church community, my amazing friends, money to support my dietary needs, etc.  What do all of those things have in common?  They are all material, superficial things!  Not that they aren't all wonderful - they truly are gifts from the Lord that I don't deserve - but they're not biblical "blessings."  

I read a post a week or so ago that has stuck with me ever sense.  It speaks to this exact point:  we think of blessings as physical, material things that God has granted to us, treating Him like a "wish-granting fairy."  We forget that the Lord tells us that being blessed means something completely different in the Bible:

"And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

 (Matthew 5:2-12 ESV)

Notice anything different between what we say are "blessings" and what Jesus tells us are blessings?  I'm not blessed because I have a roof over my head and food on the table and money in my bank account.  I am blessed because I persecuted and reviled for my faith.  I am blessed because I struggle with my health issues.  I am blessed because I mourn over the fact that I might not be able to have kids ( I didn't want to put that on here:  I wanted to keep that part hidden, thinking I shouldn't tell you about that.  Yet I sit here, writing a post about boasting in our weaknessess...see how easily it is to just say it and not practice it?!?).  I am blessed because I have a deep hunger for righteousness.  I am blessed when my spirit struggles!

Our brothers and sisters struggling in other countries, fighting for their lives?  They are all blessed in the eyes of the Lord.  Their life is literally in danger every moment, yet they continually pursue the Lord and seek his righteousness.  I've listened to countless interviews and read articles about it - I think they understand this message of blessings in a more tangible way than we can in America.  

My heart cries out for you to realize that we, as Christians, need to stop putting on a face for others.  We need to stop acting like we have it all together.  We need to stop saying "I'm blessed" when we get a promotion at work.  God be glorified in all of that, but please, please remember to say you are blessed when someone hates you and shuns you for your heart for the Lord.  Please tell others that you are so blessed because you struggle with your faith.  Boast in the amazing blessing of mourning because that is how you can experience the comfort available in Christ!

It's in the moments where we are utterly weak and helpless, where we just fall on our faces at the Lord's feet, that God's grace and power can truly shine through us.  It's in those moments where we can freely give all glory and praise to the Lord, because we know that we are miserable, weak vessels.  Apart from His grace, we would be unable to accomplish anything. 

Let's ask the Lord to move in our hearts and allow us to BOAST in those areas where we are weak.  Let's be honest and real in our struggles and weaknesses so that He can be displayed in amazing ways. Let's be a generation that changes the way people see Christians - not as those who have it all together, but those who admit their weaknesses and failures and give all the glory and success and triumphs to the only one who can beauty from our ashes - our heavenly Father!