By: Cathy Crosby (Guest Blogger)
It is easy to see God’s blessings in the happy times in our lives. In the birth of our children. Or in the job where we flourish. Or in our marriage to the man of our dreams.
But do we see God’s blessings in our trials?
Last summer, I was in Maryland with 15 other cyclists on an Independence Day ride. This was an exciting event because a bridge had just opened for cyclists to cross the Susquehanna River. Because there were technicalities involved, our group was given an orientation prior to crossing. Once we started, we enjoyed beautiful scenes of the River, keeping in mind the warning about navigating the exceptionally large expansion joints. As we neared the end of the bridge crossing, without warning and little time to respond, my front tire lodged in one of the expansion joints. I flew over the handlebars, which resulted in a hairline fracture of the radial head of my left arm. I wasn’t prepared for the accident, nor was I prepared for the extended amount of time it took for my arm to straighten. Prior to the accident, I had been blessed with good health and an active lifestyle. Now I was facing the overwhelming possibility that my arm might never straighten.
How could this be a blessing?
We may have asked the same question about being a motherless daughter. How could this be a blessing?
At times, especially around the holidays, being a motherless daughter seems more like a curse than a blessing, especially when people unknowingly ask questions about our holiday plans. If you’re like me, I’ll do anything to avoid these questions. In Romans 8:28, Paul says, “God uses all things for our good.” This means my crooked arm is a blessing. And being a motherless daughter is a blessing.
But how?
Here are some thoughts –
- Let’s be honest. We don’t like trials. I didn’t want a crooked arm. We don’t want to be motherless daughters. Likewise, Jesus, when facing His imminent crucifixion, prayed that God would take this trial from Him. But ultimately Jesus surrendered to God’s will (Luke 22:39-46). And in Jesus’ surrender, we as believers received the greatest blessing, i.e. eternal life. Likewise, the trials in our lives can result in blessings for us and others, but we need to accept what God has allowed in our lives to experience these blessings.
- As motherless daughters, we may be looked at and treated differently. I was with a crooked arm. But, as believers, we are called to be different. “We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:9). When we are looked at and treated differently, remember that God has set us apart as His chosen people for His purposes – those with crooked arms and motherless daughters included! 🙂
- Do you feel that God might have forgotten to bring about your healing? I definitely felt this way with my arm. What should have taken 6-8 weeks for recovery took 6 months! In Luke 8:43-48 we see someone else who might have felt God had forgotten about her healing. A woman who suffered from a blood disorder for 12 years! When she had the opportunity to just touch Jesus’ clothes, she knew she would be healed. And He did. He healed her. He didn’t cast her aside or forget about her. The same is true for us. Emmanuel, God with us, sees us, and is ready and willing to heal us. But, in His way and time.
Having a broken arm was a blessing because He chose this for me, for His purposes, and did not forget about my healing. Being a motherless daughter is also a blessing – He chose us for this, for His purposes, and has not forgotten about our healing.
My prayer for us for 2017 is that God would grant a greater understanding of how being a motherless daughter is a blessing. Let’s live each day knowing we are blessed by God, and a blessing to others.