Wisdom and Blessing
Proverbs 3:5–6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make straight your paths.
The Bible often makes great statements and promises of blessing, yet we are sometimes scared to speak about them. Why? Because too many preachers have bought mansions and planes while promising things from God that He does not intend to give. The prosperity gospel is alive and well, preying on spiritual infants who are trying to find the truth.
While the prosperity gospel is a corruption of the truth, I fear that we have too often overcorrected. As a result, we fail to discuss the God who desires to bless His children. I think the main reason for this is that we have the wrong definition of blessing.
When we think of blessings, we often limit them to the things our greater culture believes make life better: money, power, platform, and comfort. Maybe some of those things are less like blessings and more like temptations. Jesus says it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom because of divided loyalty. Those with platforms and power are often more vulnerable to temptation and attack. Even comfort can create in us a sense of laziness that is not promoted in the Scriptures.
God wants to bless you with things that are truly good for you—actual blessings.
Think about a family that has a child with Down syndrome. From the outside, people may focus only on the challenges the family will face. Yet, when speaking with the parents, we often hear about the profound blessing their child has been. Alongside real challenges, that child may teach the family more about love, laughter, joy, and living life to the fullest. The blessing is not found in pretending that the challenges do not exist, but in recognizing the beautiful ways God works through a life that the world may too quickly underestimate.
Proverbs 3 tells us that when we trust in the Lord, He will make our paths straight. It does not say that the road will be easy, full of fun, free of rocks, or shaded from the scorching heat. The promise is clear direction for those who trust in God. Uncertainty may remain, and challenges may come, but we can walk with confidence in the One who directs our steps.
Our God is a good Father who loves to bless His children with good things—even with the things we request when they align with His desires for us. No matter how much little Coop may want a motorcycle, I will not let him drive one because it would be detrimental, not helpful!
God promises to bless His people—not necessarily with riches and power, but with direction, love, grace, and mercy.
Can you be satisfied with that?
