How to Count Your Blessings in Difficult Times

"What's your favorite part of the Easter story?" I asked my granddaughter.

"Candy! What's yours?"

"The Resurrection," I smiled.

"Oh yeah, the Resurrection! I almost forgot. THAT'S my favorite part."

Before our sweet conversation left my mind, I scribbled it down for the family blessing jar, the sacred place where little scraps of paper record the true story of our lives.

Our story is that God is always with us. Our truth is that Christ is alive.

But the world tries to tell us a different version, especially when troubles come. 

Hard times say, "You'll never dig your way out of this grave."

Trouble leans over you when you're flat on your back and whispers, "You'll never rise again."

Don't believe a word of those lies.

Instead, count your blessings.

A blessing jar is like a hope arsenal for the inevitable times you encounter a scary chapter. 

Over the last decade, some may read the pages of our family's story as a tragic saga. Last year was no exception. But as I looked back at the notes I made during those unspeakable seasons, I found that recorded blessings are proof of God's faithful presence in every scene. 

Keep counting your blessings.

While no one story is the same, we all face similar obstacles that seek to bring about our demise— crosses too heavy to bear, insurmountable mountains, dark valleys, and cliffhangers where it appears all hope is gone. 

Inevitably, there's a time of desolation and then haunting silence before Easter Sunday dawns.

Hours before He died on the cross, Jesus revealed that bad times don't get the final say. God does.

"Because I live, you will live too.” John 14:19

Because Jesus lives, you can count your blessings.

Every single moment you choose to praise God leads to an earth-shaking, stone-rolling resurrection for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

That's everyone's favorite part.

Even if, and especially when, your resurrection story includes excruciating Fridays and soul-haunting Saturdays, don't lose track of where the plot's headed.

Because Christ is risen, you will rise again.

Just keep counting your blessings until you turn the very last page.

Without a doubt, there’s going to be a sequel.

That’s the greatest blessing of every story.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!