On Christmas Eve, the day we become very aware of how blessed we are, I find John Hilliard's reflections about blessings, to be especially powerful.
Brian
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I was recently discussing the concept of blessings with some friends and a number of interesting observations came out. To some, blessings are directly tied to wealth, power, a feeling of well being, having a good job, a nice house, clothes, etc. etc. To others, it may represent relationships that are satisfying, or having good health, or a sense of peace and refuge. Unger’s Bible Dictionary refers to the fact ‘that God blesses nature, mankind, the Sabbath, nations, classes of men and individuals. To bless God, we should adore Him and worship Him and praise Him’. Webster’s dictionary defines among others at ‘bringing comfort or joy, as well as to favor or endow, to make happy or prosperous.’
I am sensing that God has something much greater in store. Those things that we typically look to as blessings may, in fact, be blessings. It also might be that profound disappointments, struggles and challenges may fit in the category of blessing as well. My wife Joanne had heard that blessings could be defined as a place where God interrupts your day. I like that concept.
It was the pain that Job endured through his trial that brought him to the place where he could say in Job 42:2 ‘I was talking about things I knew nothing about and did not understand, things far too wonderful for me!’. I can’t compare myself to Job but I have recently experienced some significant personal disappointments and although painful I can 
look to them as blessings. Not because they ended up well but because God was in the midst of them and that He has become even more real to me, transforming my response to these types of disappointments. For a leader to be ‘level 5’ it might be good to reflect and possibly redefine what a blessing really is. May He interrupt your day today….
John Hilliard
