There is so much in this life to be thankful for. As we enter into this new year, more than ever, I thank God for allowing me to share His word with you all. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about blessings. What exactly are considered blessings? Well, according to the internet, blessings are defined as things conducive to happiness, something you are grateful for, or God’s favor towards us. In short, blessings are “the good things” in life.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17

            Therefore, what would you consider a blessing? Your life? Your health? Your family? Most people would consider all of these things blessings. When everything seems to be going our way, we feel blessed. What about in the hard times? Do you feel blessed then? Honestly, it is very hard to see any blessings in your life when you are going through a hard time. However, even in the darkest times in our lives, God’s blessings don’t go away. He is still with us every step of the way.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

            Have you ever heard the song “Blessings” by Laura Story? If you haven’t, I suggest you do…it’s a really good song. This song talks about how we pray and plead with God to bless us and to take away all the pain in our lives. However, something we fail to see is that sometimes even in the hardest times God is still there blessing us. As the chorus says, “What if your blessings come through raindrops? What if your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know that you’re near? What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is a revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy? What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”

            I know things are hard and I’m not telling you to “get over it”. When these hard times come, don’t forget that you are not alone in this. God is right there by your side. I’ve told you of some of the hardest things I’ve had to go through. I wish I could tell you that my faith stood strong every time. However, I allowed myself to wallow in self-pity and tried to numb my pain. Each and every time, God was there by my side. How do I know that? Because if I didn’t feel Him there, then He would remind me that He was there. Like with my plantation shutters. My dad had just left my family. I had made a huge mistake in measuring the shutters that would set my husband and me back an extra $1200. I felt broken, stupid, and alone. However, God made a way for me to get the shutters fixed at no cost. Though that, He reminded me that even though my dad left, He wasn’t going to leave me.

            Yes, blessings are all those things we are thankful for. Our families, our successes, our health, our joy. It is easy to see God’s blessings in the good times. However, God can still bless us even in the hard times. Give everything you have to Him and see how He works in your life. Now, this next verse I want to share with you guys is about tithing. However, as I read this verse this morning, God showed me we aren’t just supposed to give Him some of what we have, but we are to give everything we have and everything we are to Him. When we trust Him with EVERYTHING, we see His blessings all around us.  

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” – Malachi 3:10

            Trust God in all that you do, with all that you have. He won’t bless you today and curse you tomorrow because unlike people, God is faithful and He never changes. As it says in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I do not change…”. Give your life to Jesus. Don’t continue to face this world alone. He loves you and wants to bless your life. You may not always get what you want, but you will have what you need. As His word says in Malachi 3:7, “…Return to me, and I will return to you…”

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:30-33