On social media, we will sometimes see pictures or thoughts tagged with #blessed.  We beautiful pictures of beautiful families.  Scenic views.  Everything great, perfect, and tied up in a bow.  And you know what?  Those are great blessings.

Today in Luke, Jesus talked to us about being #blessed.  And what He tells us make look a great bit different than what we expect.  Listen to what we are told in Luke 6: 22-23:

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

Jesus idea about what is blessed looks very different from our world.  Jesus says that when we are hated.  Dispised.  Disregarded.  Put down upon.  Not respected or even loved by others, on His account, then we are #blessed.

In our life, we think when things are easy and calm we are blessed.  Jesus tells us today, no, that’s not right.  Your blessings don’t come from the things of this world, your blessings come from me.  You are blessed, not when things are easy, you are truly blessed when you find that I am all that you need.

It is so easy in life to find blessings in our situation and circumstance.  And yes, those are blessings. But our greatest blessing is found in Jesus.  When it gets hard when we are despised. When we are even, yes, hated, it’s ok.

Just because you are going through a time of trial does not mean that you are not blessed.  Just because things are hard, doesn’t mean that you are not blessed.  Just because doing the right thing calls you to make sacrifices, doesn’t mean you are not blessed.

Our blessings come not from the approval of other people. They come from God’s approval.  As we follow Jesus, even when things are hard, we are blessed.

Today, no matter how hard the road may be, follow Jesus. And if the path is hard, no that you do not walk alone. And know that you are truly #blessed.

If you’d like to be added to my devotional list, click here to sign up. You also can read these thoughts on St. Matthew’s mobile app. Click here to download!