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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Blessed (11/29/04)
TITLE: Blessed or Stressed?
By Nancy Israel
12/03/04
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I recently heard a pastor state in a sermon “I am too blessed to be stressed.” My initial thought was to say “Boy, I wish I could say that.” Then I got to thinking……. I could if I wanted to. I came to the realization that how we perceive the events of life are actually up to us. We have the choice to focus on the stresses of life or on the blessings God offers us. Often times we get so caught up in the busyness of our lives that we miss out on or overlook what God has to offer us by way of His blessings.

God blesses each of us in so many ways on a daily basis. There are the little things that often go unnoticed. A sunrise or sunset that paints the sky with so many beautiful colors is a blessing. A clear night sky lit up from thousands of stars is a blessing. The brilliant autumn colors found in the changing of the leaves are a blessing. A freshly fallen snow can be a blessing.

There are other blessings that we often take for granted. Simply being able to get up and out of bed in the morning is a blessing. A hug and kiss from a child is a blessing. Having a roof over our heads and food to eat are blessings. The people God has placed in our lives are blessings. Even the struggles we encounter can be blessings in disguise.

We can choose how we look at the events of our lives. We can get bogged down with all the earthly things that bombard us or we can be uplifted by the many blessings God continuously offers us. Rachel Lampa’s chorus from her song “Blessed” states it this way: “I am blessed; I am blessed, from when I rise up in the morning till I lay my head to rest. I feel You near me. You soothe me when I'm weary. Oh Lord, for all the worst and all the best I am blessed.” We simply need to remind ourselves that we are “too blessed to be stressed.”


“I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27, NCV)