Blessings?

Blessings?

"God's love is not found in the circumstances of our lives, but in His presence in our lives." --Susan H. Porter, 1st Counselor, Primary General Presidency

I often hear people talk about how God has blessed them with material goods, with health, with wisdom or other desirable things. The problem this creates is that a lack of these "blessings" must mean that God is instead withholding blessings. Or worse, that He is cursing them. And then there's the pernicious idea that if we just have enough faith, then God will "bless" us with health, wealth and wisdom. So either we're deficient, or God is cruel. 

What if it's neither?

I love what Sharon Porter said in her Conference talk today. I think she hits the nail right on the head. Our circumstances--"blessings" or lack thereof--are not evidence of God's love. The evidence is that He is with us regardless of our circumstances. Brent Nielsen of the Seventy also touched on this tonight when he recounted how his dad died of cancer in spite of all his family's prayers and efforts. And looking back, they saw that God had been with them through all of it.

It reminds me of the famous story of the Chinese farmer, as related by Alan Watts:

Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” 

The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”

The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” 

The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”

Things happen. "Blessings" are in the eye of the beholder. For me, the real blessing is to have God with me regardless of my circumstances, and to rest secure that He loves me. Anything else is a bonus. And quite possibly a distraction.