He Will Bless You

I was feeling a little let down today…not really depressed, but disappointed. I’ve been working really hard at certain things in my life and I have been feeling that despite my best efforts, things just aren’t happening. I started writing down my disappointment when the song “Dearest Children, God is Near You” came on my iPod. This is the second time in my life where this song was an answer to prayer, and maybe not so much a prayer, but a silent plea for comfort and direction.

The first time was a couple of years ago when we were living in Boston and I was asked to give a talk in church. Generally I am comfortable preparing a talk for church and usually feel good about my efforts. This particular instance, I remember I had worked on this talk every day for a week. It seemed that every time I sat down to work on it, I would read over it and know that it wasn’t right. I would scrap that attempt and would start over, praying for direction as to what I should say. It was Saturday night and I had made what I considered my final attempt, but as I read it, I still wasn’t quite satisfied but I didn’t know what else to do. I prayed about it again and then went to bed. When I awoke on Sunday morning, I woke with the lyrics to the first verse of this song in my head, specifically the last line – “He will bless you, He will bless you, If you put your trust in him.” So, that’s what I did. I woke up, putting my trust completely in Him, and rewrote and finished that talk. I can’t tell you what I spoke on that day, but I will always remember that experience.

Today, the entire song was exactly what I needed. At this particular moment, I was writing what I was feeling, though I knew the thoughts were untrue, and I wanted to get it on paper to get it out of my head. I stopped my writing when this song came on and knew in an instant that everything is going to be fine. Things are going to work out exactly like they are supposed to. I am not forgotten by my Heavenly Father, in fact, He is acutely aware of me, my needs, and my dreams. As I prove faithful, He will continue to bless me. I know as I follow the Spirit, I can’t go wrong. The decisions I am making now are made after careful consideration, sincere prayer, and with the guidance of the Holy Ghost. With such preparation, how can I fail? Things may not turn out how I expect, but I will continue to be blessed and loved by my Heavenly Father. And so will you!

Just in case you’re not familiar with the song, I have included the lyrics below:

Dearest children, God is near you, Watching o’er you day and night,

And delights to own and bless you, If you strive to do what’s right,

He will bless you, He will bless you, If you put your trust in him.

Dearest children, holy angels Watch your actions night and day,

And they keep a faithful record Of the good and bad you say.

Cherish virtue! Cherish virtue! God will bless the pure in heart.

Children, God delights to teach you By his Holy Spirit’s voice.

Quickly heed its holy promptings. Day by day you’ll then rejoice.

Oh, prove faithful, Oh, prove faithful To your God and Zion’s cause.