Yes, you read the title correctly. God blesses us in many different ways. Some are just a little harder to see than others. At times, we have to wait until we are out of that situation and can look back with hindsight to see them. Others are more obvious. Either way our hardships should always result in these five thing and they are all blessings.

1. Draw us closer to God

Reading and studying God’s word teaches us more about Him and His plans for us. They give us a hope for our future, knowing one day we will be with Him. A hope that knowing our burdens of this world will be gone never to return. This in turn comforts us, give us a peace that unbelievers cannot understand. God’s promises, in His word, draws us to Him; giving us the strength to continue.

Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have

caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction,

for Your word has given me life.

Psalm 119:49-50

2. Help us grow in our Faith

Going through any adversity should result in gaining knowledge and experience. God has the same thing in mind. He wants us to become stronger, wiser; using our past experiences to get through another. Each time we face something we should feel more capable than the last, because each time produces more of what God wants to see in us; more of what will help us succeed.

But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that

tribulations produce perseverance, and perseverance

character; and character hope.

Romans 5:3-4

3. Allow us to comfort and encourage others

Need I say more than the verse below? Really though, God comforts us through our problems. Why? To help us of course, but even God believes in paying it forward. Since we were comforted and got through it, then we can share this knowledge and example with others. Why else do we have support groups? Offline and online? To share and encourage others through our experiences.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us

in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those

who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which

we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

4. Turn our thoughts toward heaven and eternity with God

God wants us to be thinking of our eternal home. He even wants us to be eager to get there. I know I am eager. Our bodies are dying each and every day. I can’t wait to get my new one. No more pain, no more surgeries. I will no longer be over weight! Hallelujah!

But in the verse below, it isn’t just talking about our physical body. It also says that our inward man is being renewed. Our spirit is being fed daily as we read His word and talk with the Lord. So we learn, grow and our spirit is refreshed, renewed.

It is also talking about how going through these hard times result in things we cannot imagine; things that matter for eternity. They accomplish and produce more than we will know here on earth. We don’t know how our lives have affected others, been a witness to others by our daily living, by our deeds while going through these trials. We may find out that our example of surviving kept someone from suicide. We may even find out that because of the way we lived our life through these trials and tribulations that someone became a believer. A follower of Jesus! Wouldn’t that be wonderful!

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even tho our outward man is

perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working

for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

5. Give us opportunities to share our faith

If I can share my faith through words or through experiences of my life, then what I have gone through is well worth it. If I can bring encouragement to someone else, then this pain is worth it. God blesses us through both the good things in life and the hard. We just need to be open to seeing them as blessings.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready

to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason

for the hope that is in you.

1 Peter 3:15

God is helping you through this whether you feel it or not. If you aren’t feeling it, then just trust His word that says He is. As long as you hold onto His hand you will make it. That is our hope through this life we live. That is the one thing that keeps me going. I can only continue on because of this hope that is in me. You see, no matter what I go through in this life, I have heaven waiting for me. If you do not, or are not sure if you do, ask me about it.

Until next time, God bless.

~Brenda

                                                                                                   Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash