blessing – sethlewis.ie

The carefree seaside holiday feels far away. The sky is full of clouds, and the calendar is full of responsibilities. A text message comes in with bad news from someone you love, and the worry slips in quietly—and forcefully—with it. Of course it does. You can’t stop it.

Or can you? One way to stop worrying would be to stop caring about anyone, and anything. Go find a comfortable spot and keep to yourself. A few acquaintances might be workable, but be very careful not to make any real friends—you’ll end up worrying about them, eventually. Avoid marriage, romance, and commitment of any kind. Stay as far from children as possible. Only gather possessions that you can keep very close, and very safe. Don’t attempt anything that might not succeed. Reduce your expectations.

When we speak about blessings, we usually speak about the good things we enjoy, like family, friends, a nice holiday, or a great coffee. These are wonderful blessings, worth counting, and giving thanks for. And yet I was reminded recently (through a prayer of thanks offered by a friend) that when the Bible speaks of blessings, the language it uses is often far more extreme than the language we’re accustomed to using ourselves. Paul tells us that “no human mind has conceived” the greatness of “the things God has prepared for those who love him“ (1 Corinthians 2:9). In other words, God’s blessings for his children are literally off the charts, stretching beyond the borders of imagination. “My cup overflows”, says David, in Psalm 23, and in Psalm 16 he speaks of how,

“You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Tag: blessing

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