God Bless America

Americans enjoy singing “God Bless America.” Politicians like to say it to end speeches. But do you really want God to bless you? Wait--don’t answer until you know what you’re asking for.

I know what you’re probably thinking. “He’s crazy! Of course I want God to bless me!”

Well, hold on just a minute. What if your idea and God’s idea of blessing aren’t the same?

Our idea of “blessings” is usually things. Stuff. You know—money, cars, gadgets, games, houses and vacations in exotic places. But that’s not completely accurate.

Some preachers will even say that God wants to give you things like that. And God may. But he may not. God’s plan is not the same for everyone.

To find out how God may bless you, check your Bible. One reason it records the life stories of so many people is so we can learn from their examples.

Take Mary the mother of Jesus, for instance. Speaking of her the Bible says, “Blessed are you among women.” We would say, “That’s right! She was the mother of Jesus. What a joy!”

Yes, but stop and think for a minute. What did it mean for Mary to be “blessed”?

Mary lived in a small town. Did you ever think about what the gossip was like once she started to show? Most people today have heard of the “virgin birth,” but what would Mary say? How could she explain THAT to her friends? Who would understand or believe her?

Instead she would have been shunned. Her family and friends wouldn’t have understood.

And the talking! The whispering behind her back. The “looks.” On top of that, in her culture the punishment for pregnancy outside of marriage could be quite severe.

In fact the Bible says that her fiancé thought to “divorce her quietly” to avoid public disgrace. And he would have if God hadn’t explained to him in a dream what was happening.

Then Mary was told that her son would “cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

When Jesus began his ministry, Mary no doubt found his words and actions confusing and troubling. She didn’t know what he had come to do. Then he was arrested. And she had to watch him die a horrible death without being able to do a thing to help her son! Imagine her grief.

Yet all of that was a part of God’s blessing in her life. Because through her joy, her pain and her loss, God provided a Savior—not only for her but also for the whole world.

Jesus himself pointed out the unusual nature of God’s blessing. He said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”

So being blessed by God is not what we expect. That’s because God sees the “big picture.” The Bible says God is able to work all things together “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

When life doesn’t make sense we have this assurance: If you seek God, love him and obey him then he will bless you. It may not be what you expect. Or it may be better than you expect!

Jesus said, “Everyone who has left houses or brother or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”

So the next time you hear “God bless America,” think about it. Sacrifice and suffering are sometimes part of the blessing. But God promises to guide, provide for and never leave his children alone. All of that and Heaven, too! Now that’s being blessed.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!