Greatly Blessed

Posted bymusingsofmanettekayPosted inChristian Living, Devotional, PrayerTags:, , , , , , , , , , ,

A woman recently asked me, “How do you remain joyful?” A similar question or remark often follows people learning of my story. For new readers, I’m a survivor of two suicides—my son and then later my husband.

My response to the question is always, “By sheer faith, it is not of myself. Christ alone helped me to survive. I couldn’t survive once and certainly not a second time.” The woman gently probed further seeking something more concrete and less cliché despite the truth of my reply.

She waited as I gathered my thoughts of tangible “how tos.” After a few moments, I shared three things that helped me through the lowest, roughest parts of my life. Perhaps these can be useful tools when your faith is tested.

Having a Support Team
I was connected with supportive people who prayed for me when I couldn’t find words to pray myself. These people were invaluable to my recovery. We had established relationships that existed before the tragic events occurred.

Speaking Truth
I chose to speak truth over myself regardless of how I felt. I listened to lots of online sermons and read books trying to make sense of what I was going through. Both activities were in part a minimal form of distraction from my pain. Yet in my mess, the Holy Spirit used one tidbit noted below. Somehow the truth resonated as being more real than my pain. With a dry erase marker, I wrote the phrase on the corner of my bathroom mirror. I declared the statement out loud several times each day, often while sobbing, tears streaming down my face and gulping for air, knowing it was true even though I wasn’t feeling it. It was on my mirror several years, until it was rooted deep in my soul.

In Christ, I am
greatly blessed,
highly favored,
and deeply loved.

If you’re a Christian you know this is foundationally true. But we don’t always feel it. Our emotions can be out of sync with the truth when we are in crisis.

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One” (Ephesians 1:3-6, CSB).

Do you see it in my bold emphasis? In Christ, I am greatly blessed with every spiritual blessing. The passage says nothing about material, physical, or financial comforts rather a spiritual blessing. In Christ, I’m highly favored because He chose me in love to be adopted into His family. In Christ, I’m deeply loved by the grace He lavishes on me. The blessing, favor, and love are despite the prevailing circumstances.

Repeat Truth in Honesty
I chose to be authentic with God. To do otherwise is self-deceptive, I can’t hide anything from Him. God knows and sees all. After my husband’s death, a cousin shared a lament that helped him through a faith crisis. He cried out, “God I don’t understand you, but I will trust you.” He told me he would say that phrase as often as needed, maybe one hundred times per day. I began to do likewise. The sincerity of those simple words was like a balm to my aching soul.

This song speaks of the same truths. May you be encouraged through Christ’s blessings, favor, and love.

Dear Readers, do you have a phrase or scripture that has helped you through a crisis of faith? How do you maintain joy despite trials of life?

Prayer
Dear Father God, I have accepted the salvation offered through the shed blood of Jesus. Therefore, I am blessed beyond measure. I am given favor because I am deeply loved by You. Holy Spirit, help me to reject enemy lies and to flood my mind with righteousness. Help me walk in obedience to You. I will not let my emotions dictate my thinking. You have conquered the enemy—the evil one. Victory with You is cause to praise Jehovah for all eternity. Hallowed be Your name!

Author Bio
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, grandmother, great-grandmother, foster care parent, and trauma survivor. I enjoy sipping tea, writing devotionals, prayers, short stories, and unburdening my heart to the Lord. Check the About page if you want to read more of my story.

Would you like to know more about the afterlife and how you can be assured of eternity in Heaven? Check the Questions page.

Check the Free Gifts page for downloadable/printable study guides and resources.

Copyright © 2020-2023 Musings of Manette Kay™ All rights reserved. Requests to the author and publisher, Manette Kay, for permission.

Two mugs on a wood table with autumn colors. Photo by Kiy Turk on Unsplash.

Published by musingsofmanettekay

Sharing bits of memoir in the format of devotionals, prayers, short stories, and occasionally a poem.

21 thoughts on “Greatly Blessed”

  1. What a lovely post Manette! It coincides with another post I have read today; both broadly speak of the same subject, all be it from very different backgrounds. Isn’t our Father God magnificent how he guides our steps, and reading, that we are encouraged in Him? Both posts have inspired my next post called “Measuring Up” for tomorrow, and will be linked.
    When I need lifting or reassuring I always turn to either Psalm 27, or 34, or the book of Philippians.
    May our Father God continue to guide and bless you sister.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Yours are such powerful thoughts, Manette. The three points you make are also quite practical. Practical doesn’t necessarily mean easy, but you have laid out a plan for us to manage life’s greatest difficulties.
    One verse I’ve committed to memory ,and said over and over, is from the book of Isaiah: “ Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Mary Cates. Your description of “beautiful” brought to mind this passage.

      “To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory” (Isaiah 61:3, NLT).

      What an amazing trade off is presented in this passage. We (followers of Christ) are greatly blessed.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That is so true Manette, Many times in my grief and sorrow God has reached in and brought a crown of beauty. Recently I was terribly rebuked for speaking the truth about a sin that was openingly obvious, yet I survived like a great oak that the LORD had planted for his own glory. Indeed, a great trade off.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. What a powerful and personal testimony Manette! Thankyou.
        My phrase this year has been “to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. As you say “our emotions can be out of sync with the truth when we are in crisis”. Thankfully our heavenly Father understands this and gives us just the right encouragement from His Word at just the right moments. I pray this post will bless many who read it.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Pingback: Measuring Up – Devotional Treasures

  7. Thank you Manette for sharing such wisdom. You are truly living out Paul’s opening words in 2 Corinthians 1:4 “…God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Your words “Somehow the truth resonated as being more real than my pain” spoke to me the most. An encouragement to flood my mind with the Lord’s truth especially in the face of trials.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The Corinthians verse is the heart and soul of sharing my experiences. I trust the Holy Spirit will use what I’ve gone through to touch others. By touch I mean beyond a “warm fuzzy” oh, what a story.

      I pray that some nugget will help another hurting soul to endure and survive their circumstantial trial, just as I was helped.

      May you have a blessed and victorious day in the Lord, Beth. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Tom, all credit goes to God for giving faith. Of myself, I could not muster up enough faith to believe. But through the Holy Spirit, we can be empowered and encouraged to do things we cannot on our own. Blessings to you.

      Liked by 2 people

Comments are closed.

%d bloggers like this: