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Psalm 67  
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. 

I first met Laura Story at an event in Atlanta. She led a time of worship before I spoke. Then she closed the evening by telling the story of her husband’s illness that led her to write the song Blessings. The powerful lyrics of this song remind us that God’s blessings come in different ways.

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you’re near 

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise 

The psalmist prays that God’s ways would be known on earth and people would see Him at work in our lives. People are watching. They are watching the way we handle great opportunities from God as well as great challenges. He uses blessings to reveal to us and to the world who He is.

Father, too often I see only the good things You give me as blessings. But I know that the rain, storms, and hardest nights are the times when I have experienced Your presence in powerful ways. Thank You for all of Your blessings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.