Blessings Through It All

By Warren B. Smith

A number of traditional hymns speak of our many blessings in Christ. Count Your Blessings reminds us that even in our darkest moments we can rejoice and count our blessings:

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 hath done.

In his book Then Sings My Soul, Robert Morgan recounts how Howard Rutledge, a captured American soldier in Vietnam, was able to help conquer the loneliness and despair of his long captivity by recalling hymns from childhood. The following is a quote from Rutledge’s own book, In the Presence of Mine Enemies, describing how he suddenly remembered lines from the hymn There Shall Be Showers of Blessing during a heavy monsoon rainstorm:

I tried desperately to recall . . . gospel choruses from childhood, and hymns we sang in church. The first three dozen songs were relatively easy. Every day I would try to recall another verse or a new song. One night there was a huge thunderstorm—it was the season of the monsoon rains—and a bolt of lightening knocked out the lights and plunged the entire prison into darkness. I had been going over hymn tunes in my mind and stopped to lie down and sleep when the rains began to fall. The darkened prison echoed with wave after wave of water. Suddenly I was humming my thirty-seventh song, one I had entirely forgotten since childhood.1

Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need!
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

There Shall Be Showers of Blessing was inspired by words spoken by the Lord through the prophet Ezekiel when He said how He would cause showers of blessing to rain down on His people:

Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. (Ezekiel 34:22-26)

Rutledge, the formerly downed soldier, made it clear that scriptural hymns like There Shall Be Showers of Blessing were an incredible blessing to him in captivity. As other soldiers lost hope, gave up, and died, he was able to press on and survive.

In this same regard, the hymn Blessed Assurance (written by Fanny Crosby, a blind woman) reminds us that when it is all said and done—whatever our circumstances may be—Jesus Christ is our blessed hope, and He is our ultimate blessing.

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Scripture tells us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Thus, we praise God in singing the traditional doxology—recognizing that it is from God that all of our good gifts and blessings flow.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

In Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, we are encouraged to sing songs of loudest praise for God’s blessings and endless mercies:

Come, thou fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love.

Blessings From God

Blessed Are Those Who Trust in God
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8)

Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. (Psalm 40:4)

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. (Psalm 84:12)

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:11-12)

Blessed Are the Faithful

A faithful man shall abound with blessings. (Proverbs 28:20)

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:6-9)

Blessed are the Seed of Abraham
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. (Acts 3:25)

Blessed Are Those Who Fear the Lord
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. (Psalm 112:1-2)

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. (Psalm 128:1-2)

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. (Psalm 128:4-5)

Blessed is the Man Whose Strength is God
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee. (Psalm 84:5)

Blessed Are Those Who Keep His Ways
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.(Proverbs 8:32)

Blessed Are Those Who Hear the Lord
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:33-34)

Blessed Are Those Who Walk in God’s Law
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. (Psalm 119:1)

Blessed Are Those Who Hear God’s Word and Keep it
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. (Luke 11:28)

Blessed Are Those Who Keep His Commandments
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

Blessed Are Those Who Keep His Testimonies
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. (Psalm 119:2)

Blessed Are Those Whose Sins Are Forgiven
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1)

Blessed Are Those to Whom Sin is Not Imputed
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. (Psalm 32:2)

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:8)

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

Blessed Are They That Mourn
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)

Blessed Are the Meek
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

Blessed Are They That Hunger After Righteousness
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

Blessed Are the Merciful
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Blessed are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Blessed are They That Are Persecuted
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

Blessed Are Those Who Are Hated
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (Luke 6:22-23)

Blessed Are Those Who Are Not Offended
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. (Matthew 11:6)

Blessed Are Those Who Endure Temptation
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)

Blessed Are Those Who Give
I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

Blessed Are Those Who Consider the Poor and the Unfortunate
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. (Psalm 41:1-2)

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. (Luke 14:12-15)

Blessed Are Those Who Are Chastened By the Lord
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law. (Psalm 94:12)

Blessed Are Those Who Keep Judgement
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. (Psalm 106:3)

Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it. (Isaiah 56:1-2)

Blessed Are Those Who Dwell in the House of the Lord
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. (Psalm 84:4)

Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen the Lord But Believe
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:27-29)

Blessed Are Those Who Receive Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. (Ephesians 1:3-4)

Blessed is the Gospel of Christ
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:29)

Blessed are the Just
Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:6)

Blessed Are the Doers
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25)

Blessed Are Those Who Don’t Walk in the Counsel of the Ungodly
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Blessed Are the People Who Know Justice, Judgement, Mercy, and Truth
Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. (Psalm 89:13-15)

Blessed Are Those Who Are With the One Shepherd
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd…And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. (Ezekiel 34:23, 26)

Blessed is the Nation whose God is the LORD
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Psalm 33:12)

The Seven Revelation Blessings

Blessed Are Those that Read, Hear, and Keep the Revelation of Jesus Christ
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:1-3)

Blessed Are Those Who Die in the Lord Henceforth
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:13)

Blessed Are Those Who Watch and Keep Their Garments
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15)

Blessed Are Those Called to the Marriage Supper
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9)

Blessed Are Those That Are Part of the First Resurrection
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)

Blessed Are Those Who Keep the Sayings of This Book
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:6-7)

Blessed Are Those Who Keep God’s Commandments
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:12-14)

Jesus Christ—Our Blessed Hope

Blessed Are Those Who Wait
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. (Isaiah 30:18)

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (Daniel 12:11-12)

Blessed Are Those Who Wait and Watch for the Lord
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:35-37)

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. (Luke 12:38-40)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:11-15)

Blessings Through it All

While God promises that blessings accompany our faith in Him, we are also promised hatred and persecution from the world. However, the blessed assurance of our faith in Jesus Christ enables us to endure and persevere through it all.

Endnotes
1. Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul Book 2 (Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2004), p. 193.