It always amazes me how God works in us. As I was driving home from Eastbourne words of a hymn I grew up with popped into my mind:

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

I started whistling it and then sang it in Portuguese (that is my mother tongue) and carried on my journey. After doing this for several miles, I started to think back at the past years and my heart was filled with joy. I could see how true the above words are. God is faithful and good.

You might be wondering: what count as a blessing? For our world and culture a blessing could be a new job or a promotion, top grades that mean a top University, new car, expensive holiday, the house that looks like a showhouse and is worthy of Instagram, more followers on social media, being praised publicly. You get the picture. Add a #blessed after a post and you are trendy. Don’t get me wrong. Some of the above are blessings indeed, especially if you worked hard for them.

It is very common for us to consider the happy moments and good things we receive from our Father as blessings. A new born baby, a first house (or a new one), a happy marriage, a long time friend that is always there, a church family, a successful operation, full recovery from cancer treatment, kindness from strangers, amongst other things.

I want to concentrate on blessings we receive that are not as easy to identify, at least not in the moment. Things that show us God’s grace and presence with us, even though we carry heavy hearts and doubts. Those moments when we only see the difficulties and the suffering.

The Bible is full of these blessings. From the beginning, all the way back in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve receive God’s blessings in that moment just before they were expelled from the perfect place God had created. God clothed them (Genesis 3:21). When Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac in obedience to God, a ram was given. A substitute. Isaac did not have to die (Genesis 22:13-14). Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. Even in his desperate situation God was with him and prospered him (Genesis 37 to 41). When Naomi was left without a husband or sons in a foreign land, Ruth refused to leave her (Ruth 1:16-18). In the midst of a battle when the Israelites were afraid of their enemy and all hope seemed lost, a young boy had a sling. A pretty good aim resulted in the enemy being defeated (1 Samuel 17:45-51). These are but a few examples of blessings that were given during difficult times.

The first verse of the hymn I mentioned above says:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

So when you are going through tough times, maybe you received an unwanted diagnosis that will change your life, count your blessings. Think of the people God has placed around you, to care for you, to help you and walk this journey alongside you. Perhaps you have just been in a car accident and the car was written off. No one got hurt but now you do not have a car and you are not sure the insurance will pay. Count your blessings. Think of the brothers and sisters that have offered lifts and you just found out that the bus you pass every morning stops in front of your work place. You might have remembered a difficult, toxic, dangerous relationship you had and all the hurt it caused you and those who love you. Praise God for his rescue. For providing a way out. Maybe your situation is too raw, too difficult for you to stop and imagine the blessing. Do not be discouraged.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

I can certainly look back to many circumstances in my life where all seemed lost or too hard, almost impossible to even conquer. I can see God’s provision, His protection, His abundant love pouring over my life and the lives of those dearest to me even before I knew Him as my Saviour.

The greatest blessing I can count is Jesus. His death in my place on the cross to save me and offer me eternal life. His resurrection and the promise of His return. This was not without pain and suffering. He was rejected, beaten, mocked, he endured more physical pain than any other human and He is God. Perfect. Creator. Majestic. All powerful. Jesus came to give us peace and reconcile us to the Father. No greater love has anyone ever shown for me. What a blessing!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

_{Photo by Marcus Woodbridge on Unsplash}