Apparently, I am not very good at this blogging thing. 3 months since my last entry. Yet another great reason that there is grace. I will truly try to do better in the future.
A Testament to Papa’s Blessings
Okay so did you know that not all blessings are full of rainbows and sunshine? I know, right? How could that be true? Blessings are supposed to be all good things that make you happy. I mean that’s what a blessing is right?
Let’s go take a look at Matthew 5.
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Hold up! “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” “Blessed are those who mourn…” “Blessed are the meek…” “Blessed are those who are persecuted…” If you ask me, none of those things sound super fun to me. They don’t sound like blessings but more like trials. And why would anyone want to go through trials?
Take a look at the second halves of each verse. “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “for they will be comforted.” “for they will be shown mercy.” “for they will see God.” Now that sounds more like it. I want to be part of the kingdom of heaven, to be comforted, to see God.
You see, Papa has a little different opinion of what we tend to think blessings are. He sees them as the ability to become closer to Him, to feel His presence, to spend eternity with Him. Okay, I think we can all agree that that all of those seem like incredible blessings. Unfortunately, what most people still have trouble with is the first half of each verse.
People do not want to suffer. They do not want to be poor or persecuted. Who would? But as believers, we have to realize that there is no second half to the verse without the first. We suffer so that we can see the glory of God. We mourn so that we can truly understand what it means to be covered in Papa’s love. We are weak so that He can be strong.
Check out these verses:
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
See! What may seem like suffering is actually a blessing. Really, the purest form of blessing because it comes from Papa shaping and molding us into who we are supposed to be. Complete in Him.
Still not convinced? I can give you some examples from the last couple of months.
1. At the beginning of July, Papa took my grandmother home for eternity. She fought lung cancer for almost two years before she left this world and entered His arms. Momsie was the very first person I have lost, and yet, Papa already had me. As I was mourning, he was comforting. He wrapped me in such love and peace. Honestly, her memorial service was filled with such joy celebrating the life of a grandmother devoted to the Father instead of pain over our loss.
BAM! Right there! Matthew 5:4! I was mourning, and Papa blessed me by providing more comfort than I could even imagine. I got to feel His love in a way I had never before.
2. So I decided to start trying to sell t-shirts to raise money back in June. I was working camp, so I thought: “I’m going to sell so many! All these college kids are love t-shirts. Of course they will want to buy one.” Wrong! Very few people showed any real interest. Talk about discouraging. I never would have expected that. Almost 3 months passed, and I decided that Papa just wasn’t planning on raising my funds through t-shirts. I would have to think of something else. Oh me of little faith. Me of poor in spirit. I just hadn’t made it into Papa’s timing yet. I set a deadline to order the shirts on September 7th, and the two weeks before, Papa decided to change my order from about 25 shirts up to over 80.
WOAHHH!! Talk about such a blessing! After counting the cost of mailing the shirts to people all over the country, I will have made close to $1000. That much money on t-shirts!!! What?!? And the greatest part about it, there is no other explanation than to give the glory to Papa. He did it!
3. Last one. And this one didn’t actually happen to me, but I think it is too great not to share. One of my squad members spoke at a luncheon about a month ago to try and raise support. While she was there, a woman spoke out against the World Race. She was very rude and explained why missions outside of the U.S. were a very bad idea and that no one should help support. (ummm what???) My squad mate had to endure persecution right there in modern America. I know she was discouraged to some extent, but she chose to trust in her Papa anyways. And guess what! She opened up her World Race account this week to see a donation from that very same lady!
Um excuse me? Papa chose to bless her through the persecution with the very person who was doing the persecuting. WHAT!! How cool is that!! I mean how incredible is our God!!!
So why did I spend this much time explaining all of this? For a couple reasons actually.
First, so that months from now, when I am taking bucket showers, missing my family, and feeling so beaten and broken, I can look back at this and remember that everything I experience in this next year on the World Race is a blessing from a Father who loves me. He is molding and shaping me into a more complete daughter. I should rejoice fully in that.
Secondly, to support my squad mates. Our very first financial deadline is coming up, and some people haven’t met it yet. I want them to remember that this trial is actually a blessing. The stress over fundraising and the pain of rejection are blessings. Papa is about to show up and show up big. Just wait!
Finally, so that any other random person who reads this can find comfort in it. Just because you aren’t about to travel the world for a year spreading the Gospel does not mean that you are not suffering for the Father. You have real pain and persecution too. You need comfort too. So remember this verse and rejoice. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Well that is all I have. I pray that Papa uses this blog entry to provide more comfort and encouragement than I could ever imagine.
In Him,
Katie
