Sermon On The Blessings Of Life

Ulonda Faye, a female American author and freelance writer once remarked: “No matter the struggles we face, all injustices are balanced out in time. Strive to do right by you. Do no harm, while keeping your beautiful being safe and always nourished with love. All challenges, when consciously faced, make us stronger, and with this strength we reach out our hand to others with flowers of compassion. You are a miraculous blessing.” Deuteronomy 28:1-5 confirms: “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.”

Blessings are defined as God’s favor and protection. When life takes on a positive or meaningful role, a whole new perspective can surround an individual. The complexities or difficulties that can often rule or dominate, are put in their respective places and submerged into the depths of the sea. One can rise above the waves of life that affect so many, and experience the freedom and power to seek true happiness. God will be with us every step of the way in any endeavors we seek, or adversity we need to overcome. Romans 8:38-39 confirms: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Life can have many blessings, which is good news for many, but sometimes it can also be cruel and hard. Factors affect well-being or cause disruption and distress to normal everyday lives. Whether it be the sad loss of a loved one or a close friend, perhaps the loss of a position or security in an occupation, or one of many other causes that adversity can suddenly emit.

Anxiety or depression is sadly an increasingly common factor in today’s society and is often considered a direct result of the problems of life. It is a mental illness that is growing in stature at an alarming rate. Matthew 6:25-34 reminds us: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Depression is often fuelled by anxiety. Although they are classed as two separate illnesses, they are often closely linked. However, they can both be controlled by personal approach and different thinking, especially with God’s help. Everyone has bad days, that is a common factor of life. How we actually cope with them is the initial strategy in not allowing the bad days to take control and become a prominent repetitive feature that occurs nearly every day. However, we need to remember that from the depths of the deepest ocean to the pinnacle of the highest mountain, God is always with us.

The daily stresses and strains of life have a tendency to accumulate in our bodies over time. Unless we can find the right tools to fully release the subsequent pent-up emotions or frustrations completely from within, on a regular basis, then there is a strong likelihood that problems will occur in due course. Emotions feature prominently in times of anxiety. They can even trigger severe panic attacks where one has no control over their actions. One may retain doubts about their ability, they may fear the situation that they are currently in or experiencing, they may feel unsafe with no life-raft nearby to aid or rescue them. A lack of love may be experienced. It can sometimes be considered as a test, but, often, there can appear no solution to the situation. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, an English preacher once remarked: “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” Philippians 4:6-7 confirms: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”