Counting Our Blessings

This week's readings are all about God taking care of his people. He shows that even if it appears impossible, God can do all things. Miracles do happen, and many times they are simple things we may take for granted or even overlook in our every day lives. I wonder if the people to attended the meal of the loaves and fish referenced in the Bible readings, realized the miracle that happened when the food miraculously multiplied? Did they know how significant that meal was?

When God blesses us, do we realize it? Do we know when to give Him thanks?

The last few years of struggle has taught me something important. Life always seems to have it's problems. The difficult thing to do in times of turmoil is to relinquish full control of your life and give it completely to God. For some reason, we feel this innate need to always know the outcome. When we don't we feel fear.

Fear is not from God. Fear is a demon. Fear's main goal is to hold us back from accomplishing God's work, and from growing closer to God. When we let fear take hold, we are giving in and giving up. We get so caught up in this fear and our problems that we lose sight of God.

This is when we fail to trust God fully. This is when we feel the need to retain control over a situation. By not letting go, we are essentially saying to God, "I may trust you a little bit, BUT, I don't think you can help me now." That is human pride and arrogance in action. Who are we to think we can do better than God? The God who created us? The God who created and guides the universe.

We will never lose our struggles in this life. When we think a problem has been solved, we find new issues. To struggle is to grow in fortitude and strength. To learn to lean on God is a challenge presented to us constantly through our lives. God promises to give us the grace to endure. He promises his blessings and he promises eternal life if we just give him our faith and trust.

When we struggle, instead of wallowing in fear and our problems, let us instead give our worries to God. Let's open our eyes to the unexpected and often times quiet and understated ways God blesses us with miracles every day. Sometimes it's when we are going through tough times that his blessings become clear. Sometimes those blessings are hidden within the turmoil and troubles.

Recently, I had been praying about my financial situation and the need for several large house repairs. As I was worrying about this, I kept feeling water on my floor. I thought it was from my cats who love to play in their water bowl being all sorts of messy. Then a few days later, as I was still stressing over paying my bills, while sitting at my desk in my home office, I could hear water dripping in my house. I went searching for the source. Turns out it was my air conditioner unit leaking in the walls, and the water had been seeping up through my flooring. God's solution to my financial and house worries was to create a situation that required major renovations, and an insurance claim. Through this, he sent me a fantastic remediation and contractor, who not only was able to get my house fixed up, but he was able to also get me the other home repairs that needed to be completed for less than half the normal pricing.

Another blessing, I received in the last few years- during COVID - was that I was fired from my job that I had for 5 years. My grandmother was dying, and the time off, gave me the opportunity to care for her in her final days. I got to watch the woman I looked up to become a saint before she passed away. I was given the gift of being able to tell her that I wanted to become her when I grow up. I watched her transition from this life into the next. I watched as she was greeted by her father in Heaven, apparently with a milkshake (according to her). It was one of the last things she said to me. A few weeks later, I was hired by a new company with a substantial financial raise.

Give your troubles to God. Then work to let them go. You will fight the urge for control, and you will fight the fear, even after giving them to God. Tell God about those fears too. He wants to be with us through all our emotions, not just the good ones. Then take a look around you. You might be surprised at the graces and blessings you receive. #blessed