Last year, we moved into a house here in South Africa. It is what is called here a sectional title property. In the United States, it would most closely resemble a townhouse. Our unit is single-story, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage.
What I love about our little corner of South Africa is the small garden off the back stoep (verandah). It sounds fancy. I assure you, it is not. Still, I love having just a bit of green grass outside, with room to plant a few rose bushes.
Purchasing this home was a step of faith for us. As foreigners buying property here, we were required to put down a 50% deposit to qualify for a home loan, called a bond in South Africa. To make it possible, we invested a large portion of our retirement savings.
And here I am, apologizing and explaining away the Lord’s blessing.
Receiving God’s kindness while feeling undeserving
I find it difficult to share God’s blessings in my life. This post is a first for me. Beneath the surface, I’ve struggled with feeling deserving of such kindness.
But I know that God’s blessings are not meant to be hidden or explained away. They are intended to be received with gratitude and held with open hands.
Maybe you have felt the same way. The instinct to downplay the good, to diminish the joy, to make yourself smaller.
What if, in our downplaying or hiding the blessings, we are also downplaying God? I know that’s not what I want to do, I don’t think you want to, either.
Perhaps part of what God is teaching me is to receive His love without apology. To recognize His provision and call it what it is, a blessing. God’s blessings are intended to be received with gratitude and shared, pointing back to Him.
Take a moment to recognize the blessings in your life. Thank God for them, knowing that blessing you is His delight. Share them with a heart free from pride, simply reflecting His goodness.
