I often wonder when someone prays “God bless us” what they are asking God to do. Is the person asking for only good events to take place in our life?

After all, God does bless us every day through having sent His one and only Son, Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins. 

He blesses us with air to breathe. He blesses us with His indwelling Holy Spirit, when we have a true relationship with Him through Jesus. He blesses us in the midst of challenges with peace, guidance, and help. The list of God’s blessings for us goes on and on.

When I first came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I was taught to pray specifically. When I pray specifically, I am more attuned to see God’s involvement in the answer. That leads me to tell Him how grateful I am.

When we pray specifically, we may have a hint of what God’s activity might be in our lives. After all, just because we ask God to do something, doesn’t mean He will do it our way! We must always be grateful for how He answers, knowing He always will do what is best for us. That means suffering may be involved.

I have also realized that some of my greatest blessings have come through times of trials and suffering for the Gospel.

Does that mean when someone prays “God bless us” that they are asking for times of suffering to come upon us? After all, we are blessed with a deep experience of God during trials and tribulations, when we abide in Him.

Abraham was blessed abundantly by God. However, he had to walk through times of great challenges, causing him to lean into and trust God moment by moment. [That is what God desires for all His people.] Consider the following passage from Genesis 22:1-18:

“Some time later God tested Abraham.” Often our challenges are authored by God. He has only good intentions in the times of testing. We know He did for Abraham. That’s a blessing!

“He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. What a privilege for Abraham to have this direct conversation with God! Abraham had no idea what would come next in this conversation. But God did, and He was prepared to help Abraham in and through the trial.

Today, God speaks to us through the reading of God’s Word, and by His Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts and minds. It is a privilege and blessing to have this intimate communion with God. Others can read the Bible, but without a relationship with Jesus, the experience is different for them.

“Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah.” This command starts out sounding like they will be heading for a road trip…those can be enjoyable.

But God had more to say: “Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Now that is a challenge. That is when Abraham could have gotten into a lot of “what ifs”. I don’t think Abraham ever gave it a thought that if he sacrificed Isaac he had Ishmael as a back up. I’m basing this upon his words to his servant. Abraham told his servant “we” will be back. At this point in his life, Abraham didn’t allow doubt to creep in, not from anything we read in the Bible.

It appears that without further discussion with God, when we might want to ask Him to reconsider His request, Abraham obeyed: “Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.” I often wonder if God, through His Holy Spirit, was encouraging Abraham as they traveled, especially with reassurance that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. 

What attributes of God might the Holy Spirit encourage us with when we are in pressured situations? This is always a great time to get out your list of God’s attributes, and ponder them from A to Z! If you want a copy of my list, please email me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

The Amplified Bible gives us further insight into the situation. In Hebrews 11:19 it states: “For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.” [Please remember the bracketed words are man’s thoughts on the passage.]

This passage from Hebrews gives us insight into how deeply Abraham trusted God. After all, God had “proven” Himself to Abraham many times prior to this point. That history with God built confidence in Abraham. This works the same way for us. Our history with God, of His involvement and faithfulness to us, builds confidence for the next trial that we experience.

“He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Do you hear the confidence Abraham voices to his servant regarding God in this statement? Abraham KNEW Isaac would return with him. 

Abraham didn’t know how God was going to do it, but he trusted God fully. 

As we begin 2025, will you determine to trust God more than you did in 2024, so that you can experience deep blessings of God at work in your life in the midst of suffering?

The story will continue in next week’s edition of “But God”.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com to talk about trusting God and knowing more of His character.  Also, If Jesus isn’t your Lord and Savior, please reach out to me.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.