People say that if you follow Jesus, you will be blessed. I agree. I just think it's important to note that our idea of blessing and God's idea of blessing don't always match up.
We say: "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."
We think: I can get that job, win this game, finish this project, accomplish my dreams.
But the context says this statement is about finding contentment whether or not things go our way:
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13).
Jesus says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
We think: A full life means a happy family, a nice house, two cars, money in the bank.....
But the rest of the Bible says that true life is living for Someone greater than yourself:
"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?' " (Mark 8:34-36).
We read: "You will fill me with joy in your presence" (Proverbs 10:28).
We think: Jesus fills me with a warm fuzzy feeling and gives me a happy life, taking my problems away.
But the rest of the Bible says that joy is based on our hope that God is good and everything will be worked together for good in some way, whether during this life or the next.
"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).
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance" (Romans 5:3).
"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while" (1 Peter 1:6).
"We never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Paul describe his life as a faithful believer in this way: "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything" (2 Corinthians 6:10).
Yes, God blesses us with strength, life, and joy, but it doesn't always look like what we think it will.
Here are some insightful thoughts by another blogger on this topic: 4 Things Jesus Didn't Die For
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
-Isaiah 55:8-9
