Blessings
"I'm so blessed."
"May God bless you!"
"You're such a blessing!"
I don't know why, but these things always make me cringe. Perhaps it's that they're just so overused. Or the word "blessing" just has taken on such a cozy, fuzzy, sentimental feeling that encountering it in conversation is like blundering into an unexpected warm spot in a pool.
But, it's a thoroughly biblical word, so using it (appropriately!) is...well...appropriate. The fact that it's been hijacked in order to be used as a nebulous, sappy, feel-good term, accompanying glowing images with softened edges and decorative throw pillows, doesn't mean that it doesn't have a good, right, and salutary use.
I mean, Jesus made frequent use of it in the Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." etc.
Funny, though. His use of the word seems to be in direct contrast to how it is usually used today.
Normally when we're talking about blessings, we're talking about good things: material wealth, good health, job offers, friendships, or even 3 green lights in a row. When I'm "counting my blessings", I'm usually thinking of things like a roof over my head, clothes to wear, heat, transportation, family, etc. I'll betcha that in those gratitude journals that are (or were?) all the rage, people don't usually list things like mourning, meekness, hunger, thirst, and persecution.
And yet Jesus does.
And I guess that's maybe one of the big things that rubs me the wrong way. Are we not to accept pain from God as well as pleasure? If we know that God is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28), doesn't that include the bad things? Or aren't we supposed to, as James says, count it all joy when we meet trials? (James 1:2) Or as Peter says, consider it a blessing to be insulted because of Christ? (1 Peter 4:14) And Hebrews talks about being disciplined as sons, for our good. Is this not a blessing, too?
How can insomnia be a blessing? How can migraines? Or abdominal pain? Or anxiety? Depression? What about things like debilitating arthritis, or autoimmune disorders that sap energy and slowly destroy the body? How about the death of loved ones, or conflict with those still living? Can they really be received as blessings?
What in the world.
Such nonsense runs counter to everything we've ever been taught, everything that's deeply ingrained in us, everything that we see in life and reality. Of course death is bad. Of course pain is bad. "Pain bad, pleasure good" is the most fundamental thing in life, isn't it? It's not like we should go seeking to be depressed, or hurt ourselves, or destroy things that sustain life...become ascetics, living a Spartan life of harsh denial as though the more pleasant things in life were the problem. I don't think it's wrong to try to end pain, or to seek to have as problem-free a life as we can - especially when it comes to providing such for our loved ones and families.
We don't go looking for suffering. That's madness.
BUT...when in the midst of suffering, perhaps there is that silver lining, if we can only open our eyes to see it.
Maybe there's truth to the cliche "No pain, no gain." After all, most things that are worthwhile take blood, sweat, and tears. "It'll build character", as every child has heard (and despised.) Oh, yippee.
But what about when the pain just won't let up, when you've reached the breaking point, but now you're so far past it that it's fading in the rear view mirror? When, "I can't take it any more," and "Stop the ride now, I want to get off!" are meaningless sentiments that no one seems to hear? (and even if they did, they wouldn't have the power to throw the switch to stop the stupid thing.)
Enough of the "blessings," God, please?
Ah, there is yet a little more comfort to be found: "Christ also suffered."
Even when no one else can really understand what I'm going through, even when I feel utterly alone in my misery...there is One who not only sees and knows, but understands. My great High Priest can sympathize. He didn't turn away when it came to suffering; indeed that was why He came. He endured suffering that I can never understand, suffering that was taken on Himself on my behalf - not just physical pain (though that, for sure!), but emotional, and psychological, and far more than that: the full cup of the wrath of God.
Because of His suffering, I have been given hope. Because of His suffering, mine is only temporary. Because of His suffering, one day this suffering must come to an end, and be replaced by eternal joy and bliss far beyond what I can imagine. This suffering is only for a little while, and once Christ returns it will seem like a blip on the radar screen, a mere moment that is quickly forgotten for the unending joy that will be mine.
It's true that the good things in life are a blessing (though, they can easily turn into a curse, if clung to too tightly!) It's true that "the good life" is a gift from God. But even greater gifts - even greater blessings - are often accompanied by pain: the forgiveness of sins, for example, which follows the sting of the Law and the killing of pride. And those things that hurt, if it weren't for them, many of my Old Adam's desires wouldn't be curbed but would have free-er reign to wreak havoc...and while I might not have to lean so hard on those around me, those relationships wouldn't run nearly as deeply as they do, as a result.
So, yeah, sure...hang that cute sign on the wall. But maybe mount a crucifix next to it, as a reminder of the greatest blessing of all: Christ's suffering and death that gives us forgiveness, life, and salvation. And maybe, at the same time, it can serve as a reminder that as we Christians are called to take up our crosses, suffering too can be received as a blessing.
-M
"And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
'Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
(Matthew 5:2-12 ESV)