There is a danger in life that does not always look like danger. It is not always sickness, sorrow, hardship or loss. Sometimes the danger comes when we are blinded to how truly blessed we have been by the Lord.
A person can be surrounded by the goodness of God and still complain as if God has done very little. We can have food on the table, clothes to wear, a place to sleep, people who love us, a Bible to read, a church to attend and breath in our lungs, yet still focus more on what is wrong than on what God has already given.
That is what I would call becoming blind to the blessings. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses warned Israel about this very danger. God had brought them out of Egypt. He had delivered them from bondage, led them through the wilderness, fed them with manna, and brought water from the rock. Yet Moses knew that when they entered the land of blessing, they might forget the God who brought them there.
He said, “Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 8:11). Then he warned them that when they had eaten and were full, when they had built houses, when their possessions had multiplied, their hearts might be lifted up. They might begin to say, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17).
That warning is still needed today. It is possible to enjoy the blessings of God while forgetting the God of the blessings. It is possible to receive His gifts and fail to thank the Giver. Familiarity can make blessings seem common. What once moved us to tears can become ordinary. What once caused us to praise can become something we expect.
Israel saw manna fall from Heaven, yet later complained about it. Imagine complaining about miracle bread! But before we are too hard on them, we should examine our own hearts. Have we ever complained about what we once prayed for? The job that was once an answer to prayer can become a burden. The house God provided can become something we constantly criticize. The family God gave can be taken for granted. The church that once encouraged us can become something we neglect.
One problem can become so large in our minds that it blocks out a hundred mercies. One unanswered prayer can make us forget the many prayers God has answered. One difficult season can cause us to overlook years of faithfulness. But a hard day does not mean we have a bad God. A valley does not erase all the mountains God has already brought us over.
The Bible says in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” David had to speak to his own soul. He had to remind himself not to forget. Sometimes we need to do the same.
We need to remember where God found us. Remember what He forgave. Remember the prayers He answered. Remember the doors He opened. Remember the times He protected us. Remember the people He placed in our lives. Remember the mercy we did not deserve.
The greatest blessing of all is salvation. If God has forgiven your sin, changed your life, made you His child, and given you eternal life through Jesus Christ, that is a blessing we should never get over!
The cure for becoming blind to blessings is a thankful heart. Thankfulnessdoesnotdenythatburdensarereal.Itsimplyrefuses to forget that God is good. It helps us see shelter instead of just repairs, provision instead of just expenses, grace instead of just grief, and mercy instead of just hardship.
May God open our eyes again. May we not become so familiar with His goodness that we stop seeing it. Do not be blind to the Lord’s blessings!
May our hearts echo the words of Scripture: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
