Revive Me, Week 12– Count Your BLESSONS

Revive Me, Week 12–A Year of Growing Stronger in the Lord

Count Your BLESSONS

Karen Salmansohn came up with the word “blesson.”  She said it means “when you’re able to see the blessing in the lesson that your trial taught you.”  I love this reminder of a very biblical concept!

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

(James 1:2-4)

We serve such an amazing God!  It’s all too easy to count our problems, to wring our hands over trials and disappointments.  First of all, they do exist.  Christians aren’t exempt from experiencing hardships (John 16:33; Psa. 34:17,18).  As long as we’re in this world, we may barely get through one difficulty only to encounter another.  Second, it’s also all too easy to count our burdens because nearly everyone does it.  What’s covered in the nightly news?  What’s trending on social media?  Typically it includes what’s wrong with the world.  And yet, again I say, we serve an amazing God!  While we are surrounded by “trials dark on every hand,” God wants us to KNOW that they are temporary (2 Cor. 4:18), that He will not forsake us (Heb. 13:5), and that good can come from suffering (see several passages listed below).

Jesus lived a perfect life and was the Son of God yet “He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:8,9).

The world points to suffering as proof of an indifferent God or a nonexistent one but Christians know better.  We trust God because we know He loves us, refines us, and works for our ultimate good (Rom. 8:28).  Please remember that, dear reader.  No matter what life throws at you, you can smile anyway because your Creator holds you in His care.

Suggestions for the Week:

1.  Go ahead and list your problems but then list how you can grow from them.  Do you need refining in attitude or character?  Do you need to increase your faith or trust?  Have you been relying more on yourself instead of God?
2. Read through 1 Peter, paying close attention to what you can learn about suffering as a Christian.
3. For personal Bible study or family devotional time, list the spiritual good that can come from suffering or the hope God offers:
   1. 1 Pet. 5:10
   2. James 1:2-8, 12
   3. Rom. 5:2-5
   4. Rom. 8:18
   5. 1 Pet. 1:7
   6. 2 Cor. 5:1
   7. Heb. 12:7-11
   8. 2 Tim. 2:12
   9. Psa. 119:67
   10. 2 Cor. 1:3-5
4. Bible-mark “Why Good People Suffer”

Author: Kathy Pollard

I'm a Christian woman, happily married to my best friend, Neal. We have 3 grown sons, Gary, Dale, and Carl, and 3 sweet daughters-in-law, Chelsea, Janelle, and Emily. Neal preaches for the Lehman Ave. church of Christ in Bowling Green, KY. We love the Lord and His church! View all posts by Kathy Pollard