a drop of water

A few weeks ago at small group we covered the chapter on Psalm 128 that focused on Happiness in Eugene Peterson’s, The Long Obedience in the Same Direction. James reminded us that God is relentlessly trying to bless us.  The idea that God wants to bless us seems so matter-of-fact; it is a truth that we hold as a foundation of our faith.  But there is often a disconnect between that idea and our heart’s reaction to the circumstances life throws at us.  How is God blessing us when all of our friends have passed away and our family lives far away and we have our own health problems?  How is God blessing us when our baby is still born? How is God blessing us when natural disaster destroys our sustenance and livihoods?  I don’t know. I can only feebily attempt to understand the magnitude of what these circumstances might feel like.

But I do know that in each of these circumstances, there is the opportunity to look for God’s presence and relentless blessing.  Maybe that is the blessing itself, the fact that in all of those circumstances, I am not alone, We are not alone, You are not alone.  God is with us, and that is the greatest blessing we could ever receive.  God says he will never leave us, nor forsake us as we hold fast to the plan and promise that he as given us.  Hebrews 13:5 recounts how Moses reminds Israel and Joshua that God has gone before them and will never leave them in the face of unsurmountable obstacles to His promise.

In every sorrow and joy, hardship and encouragement, happiness and frustration that life throws at us, we as christians have the opportunity to acknowledge and proclaim the relentless blessing of God because he is present.