“Life is not horrible. Count your blessings.” This is what Abby doodled on the chalk board wall at the Resonate Church office. It is something I say often to our kids (or something like it).
It can be hard to see the blessings all around us, especially when life feels hard, or worse yet—horrible.
I will ask my sweet kids things like, “Do you have people who love you?” (Yes.) “Do you love the Lord and does He love you?” (Yes.) “Has He taken care of you so far?” (Yes.) "OK, so life isn’t horrible, it just feels that way right now. Let's count some more blessings…"
Before long, a right perspective replaces a short-sighted pity party. A smile returns along with a joy-filled heart. NOW we can work on the problem, now that we have a correct perspective.
Psalm 103 gives us a great example of how to do this: “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits…” It goes on to list so many benefits (aka blessings) that we have when living with and for the Lord. I encourage you to read Psalm 103 this week!
So when I get stressed or short-sighted, I stop and think of that simple message Abby wrote on the chalk board:
“Life is not horrible, count your blessings.”
“Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
