You need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.

[caitlincares]

People who live in affluence for all of life (such as many people in North America and Western Europe) can easily become so accustomed to wealth, blessings, and prosperity that they can easily forget what blessings they actually have. However, if those possessions are taken away, those people will certainly look at life with a new perspective, realizing how much they really had.

You don't realize how much you have until you don't have it anymore.

God knows the importance of balance; that is, the importance of having both blessings and difficulties. There are several scriptures that speak about this balance. For example in 1 Peter 4:13, we are told: Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Notice how we participate both in suffering and in joy.

Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 1:7, Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth: And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. They experienced both suffering and comfort.

Don't become too comfortable with what you have, because when you forget that the things you have are a blessing from God and when you start to assume that they are guaranteed possessions, it is quite possible that God will take them away from you in order to teach you that you need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.


(whole post taken from Weekly Wisdom from ChristNotes.org)

 

[~*ZEE*~]

Absolutely! Great post *nod*

 

[caitlincares]

Don't become too comfortable with what you have, because when you forget that the things you have are a blessing from God and when you start to assume that they are guaranteed possessions, it is quite possible that God will take them away from you in order to teach you that you need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.

So many think they are OWED certain things.
I try to remember everything I have is a blessing from God.
I have a great responsiblity to use what the Lord has given me
as I believe He would have me do.

 

[LynnMcG]

Thank you Caitlin.

I also think it's important to give thanks even when you don't necessarily feel it. I think when you do, it's an exercise in gratitude that the Lord blesses with peace over that situation. For example, we used to struggle with the fact that we don't have much in the way of stuff in our lives (I guess when you compare us to most Americans and ALL of our friends). But we give thanks to God each day, nonetheless. As a result, he gives us peace over what we do have. We do not desire more. We're fine, we're comfortable and that's EXACTLY when he blesses us!

We had a pretty tight Christmas this past year. We had to cash in our Christmas club early and pay bills with it. The kids we're going to have gifts, which we thought we're sufficient, but they'd normally have had more. In any case, we were pleased. We'd gotten them gifts we knew they'd appreciate and we thanked God. Then our Church adopted us and got us more gifts. For this, we were even more grateful! We were going to turn them down, but to do that would deny them a blessing as well. Then on Christmas eve, someone left two HUGE bags of wrapped gifts (one back for each child) on our front porch. MORE God, more?! Not only did our Father provide, he blessed us until we overflowed!!

God is SO good.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Amen Abba. Grace and peace be upon you all.

 

[day2day]

Great post! you are right on point with this one. You can't have a testimony without a test. God has truly bless you with insight day2day

 

[nhzname]

... you need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.

Amen!