Sabbath Thought – The Blessing of What Didn’t Happen

Would you like an easy life? If we are honest with ourselves, we will say “Yes!” We ask ourselves why the really tasty and sweet foods are generally not very healthy for us, and the foods that are really good for us generally are the ones we dislike the most? Why does a great deal of rest make us weaker rather than stronger? Why can’t we just learn something and forever have that knowledge at our disposal? Why is the human experience full of such struggle and even more so when God calls us out of the world around us?

It can be easy to focus on the troubles in life, but we need to remember to consider the good that comes out of struggles. More than once I have been near an accident I could have easily been a part of, or saw irresponsible driving that should have created an accident in front of me but didn’t. I have seen God bless me in other situations with protection or deliverance when otherwise things could have been very bad for me. I have seen God diffuse a situation that might have otherwise caused me harm (or at the least great discomfort).

Trouble in life comes our way no matter whether we are prepared for it or not. Being human, we tend to only look at what happens to us, rather than also considering the trouble that doesn’t happen to us.  I call this “The Blessing of What Didn’t Happen.” There is a great poem that addresses this very outlook:

I’ve got a heap of troubles

           And I’ve got to work them out

           But I look around and see

           There’s trouble all about;

           And when I see my troubles,

           I just look up and grin

           And count all the trouble

           That I’m not in.

                             (Author Unknown)

We are all too aware of the struggles we have in our lives. Why not take some time this Sabbath to consider “The Blessing of What Didn’t Happen”? While we are at it, we can also consider the very clear blessings God has provided in our life – and remember the promise that He would never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Struggles in this life can help make us spiritually stronger to prepare us for being in God’s Kingdom. Let’s not forget the mercy and help God extends to us in our journey.

Enjoy God’s Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

25 January, 2025