Count Your Blessings

On the way home from work tonight, I talked to my brother. He is going through a rather challenging time. I won’t get into details here, but towards the end of the conversation he commented how he and his wife were seeing the Holy Spirit in their lives in the midst of their challenges. He said he particularly saw this in the people God had put in their lives.

As we talked, we were reminded of the song our Mom often sang at home as we were children growing up – Count Your Blessings (by Johnson Oatman, Jr.,). It goes like this:

  1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
    When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
    Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
    And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
    • Refrain:
      Count your blessings, name them one by one,
      Count your blessings, see what God has done!
      Count your blessings, name them one by one,

      Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
  2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
    Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
    Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
    And you will keep singing as the days go by.
  3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
    Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
    Count your many blessings—money cannot buy
    Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
  4. So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
    Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
    Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
    Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

In the midst of our darkness hours, our deepest discouragements, and our crushing challenges, we can discover renewed hope and purpose when we take time to count our blessings.

I don’t know what challenges you are facing, but I’m sure there are blessings in your life worth counting.

For me it starts with a wonderful, loving wife, a fantastic family, my health, my job, my church family, my friends. And this is just the beginning. God has blessed me in ways that far outshine my challenges.

How have you been blessed? Take time to count some of your blessings today.

Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5