12 Disciplines of a Grateful Heart

Part 4

3. Look for the hidden blessings

Colossians 4:2 

Continue in prayer, and watch 

in the same with thanksgiving;

Sometimes in our lives, we grumble and complain at the blessings God gives us, as they’re not what we would have chosen for ourselves. God’s blessings often come disguised as pain and suffering and trials. We only see the pain and suffering, but God is doing a refining process. God is working on the condition of the heart. The blessing is obscured from view until such a time as God chooses to reveal it or as our hearts are in tune with Him more closely, 

and we can see His hand at work.  

In Colossians, Paul exhorts the brethren to be watchful and be alert. He encourages them to be earnest towards, to persevere, to be constantly diligent and to be vigilant and to keep awake! The Greek word for watch in this verse in kin to another Greek word that has the idea of 

wakening from sleep and rising up.

Yes, we all need to wake up! Wake up to God’s blessings, despite how they look on the outside. They don’t always look like a blessing. They are hidden gems. God’s way of teaching us and helping us to grow. We can either become better or become bitter during trials. It’s a choice. And it’s our choice.

And did you notice that we are to watch with thanksgiving? We are to watch in gratitude as an act of worship to God, with a thankful heart.

We find ourselves complaining about our physical appearance, our size, our job, our level of intelligence, our possessions. But God knows that not everything we desire will be to our benefit. He gives us what we need.

When I was going through a dark and lonely trial last year, I couldn’t see any benefit in it. I couldn’t see any blessings. All I saw was darkness. But my God saw blessing. My God saw a way to refine me and draw me closer to Him. He looked down and saw someone in need of an even deeper relationship with Him. There was blessing despite the burden.

Psalm 68:19

 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,

 even the God of our salvation. Selah.

This verse in Psalms tells us that he DAILY gives us benefits. Daily. Every day. The problem is that our definition of something profitable for us, is vastly different to God’s definition. His ways are not our ways. 

His thoughts not our thoughts. 

There are hidden blessings under every cloud. God has a purpose for the rain and the snow. Rain may disappoint, but that comes from our limited knowledge. God sees the bigger picture. He sees the reason for the rain. 

Isaiah 55:10-13

 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, 

and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,

 and maketh it bring forth and bud, 

that it may give seed to the sower, 

and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth

 out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, 

but it shall accomplish that which I please, 

and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: 

the mountains and the hills shall break forth

 before you into singing,

 and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree,

 and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: 

and it shall be to the LORD for a name,

 for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

There are a lot of spiritual applications in these verses that I would like to explore more at another time, but for now, just know that God has a purpose for the rain and the snow, and He has a purpose for your trial. He showers us with blessings, it’s just that sometimes they are hidden and we might 

have to dig a little to find them.

 We need to look for those hidden blessings. We need to stay alert to the blessings God gives and then remember to praise Him for them. God is always giving us reasons to praise and worship Him. A grateful heart will rejoice and be thankful.

Isaiah 61:10

 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, 

my soul shall be joyful in my God; 

for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,

 he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, 

as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments,

 and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

We have so much to be thankful for. Stop and look for those hidden blessings, and then take the time to thank the Lord for them, giving Him all the honour and praise that is due His name. Develop a grateful heart

 and watch and pray with thanksgiving.