#Blessed??

You've probably seen #blessed on t-shirts and mugs, instagram, facebook and twitter.  It's almost always in connection with a vacation photo, beautiful family photo or some victory over illness or work.  All of those are, of course, blessings.  God desires to give us every good gift. 

I find it interesting, however, what Jesus says about who He considers to be blessed.

If Jesus considers the people referenced in the Beatitudes as blessed, why don't we see posts with the #blessed when people post about losing a loved one (Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted) or those who are persecuted because of their faith,  or those who are poor in spirit because of a difficult trial? (Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven)

I had to really think about #blessed this week as my family faced another Job moment. 

Since my husband's stroke two months ago, one of the bright lights in our family has been my daughter's pregnancy.  There's nothing like the hope and excitement of a new baby.  I had been looking forward to my daughter's baby shower for weeks.  Saturday morning, the day of my daughter's shower, I was awakened by a phone call from my daughter.  She was sobbing as she told me she had started bleeding and was headed to the hospital.  At 30 weeks along in a normal pregnancy, this was beyond scary.

How could God allow my family to suffer yet another trial so soon?  I have to admit, I had several moments yesterday where I felt abandoned and unloved by God.  I most definitely didn't feel #blessed.  I quickly spiralled into a pity party (I just wanted ONE normal, happy day at my first grandchild's baby shower, after all!).  But because  I'm old and have walked with God my entire life, I knew my perception of this new crisis was wrong.  I knew, deep in my heart, that God still loves my family, still wants good things for us and still hears our prayers.  Once again, He brought the Beatitudes to my mind to correct my wrong thinking.

 What the world calls  #blessed is so different than what Jesus calls blessed.  In the midst of this hard season of life I must remember that I am, indeed, in the most spiritual and deep sense of the word, blessed.  I am blessed to have supportive, prayerful family and friends who provide so much comfort.  I am blessed with the strength of Christ when I am worried and weak.  We are blessed with modern medicine and caring nurses and doctors.  But most of all we are blessed with God's very presence as He walks beside us through another trial.  For NOTHING separates us from the Love of God!  Now that's what I call #blessed.

Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Matthew 5 1-12 NIV)

The Beatitudes

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.