What It REALLY MEANS
When we think of the word “blessed,” what comes to mind? Maybe a dream job, financial security, a healthy family, or the perfect vacation. If you scroll through social media, you’ll see people posting about their new house, engagement, or promotion, with the hashtag #BLESSED.
But when Jesus talks about blessing in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), His definition is radically different. He doesn’t say, “Blessed are the successful” or “Blessed are the wealthy.” Instead, He says things like:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit…
- Blessed are those who mourn…
- Blessed are the meek…
Wait… what? Blessed are the people who are struggling? That doesn’t seem to make sense. Who wakes up in the morning hoping for sadness or weakness? Yet, Jesus turns our expectations upside down, revealing that true blessing isn’t about comfort or success—it’s about living in God’s Kingdom, even in the hardest moments.
The Kingdom Perspective
To really understand the Beatitudes, we have to see them through the lens of God’s Kingdom. Jesus wasn’t giving us a to-do list or a set of moral achievements. He was announcing something incredible: the Kingdom of God is here, and it’s for the people who least expect it.
The world says blessing is about being strong, confident, and in control. But Jesus says the Kingdom belongs to the broken, the overlooked, and the hurting. Not because pain is good, but because in those moments, we are most open to receiving God’s grace.
Blessed in the Mess
Think about it this way: when life is going perfectly, it’s easy to believe we’ve got everything under control. But when we’re struggling—grieving a loss, battling insecurity, or feeling stuck—that’s when we truly realize our need for God.
Jesus is saying, You are blessed, not because of your pain, but because God is with you in it. The Kingdom of God is breaking into your life, right where you are. That means:
- If you feel spiritually empty, the Kingdom is yours.
- If you’re mourning, God Himself will comfort you.
- If you feel powerless, one day you’ll inherit what matters most.
- If you’re desperate for justice, you will get it.
This isn’t just wishful thinking. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection prove that God’s Kingdom is both already here and still coming. We live in that tension—the “already/ but not yet.” Right now, we get glimpses of His blessing in our pain. And one day, every broken thing will be made whole.
Living the Beatitudes Today
So, what do we do with this? Do we just wait for heaven? No! Jesus invites us to live in the reality of his Kingdom now. That means:
- Pursue Right Relationships: with God, others, and creation.
- Be Merciful: quick to forgive, slow to judge.
- Guard Your Heart: what you consume shapes who you become.
- Be a Peacemaker: not just avoiding conflict, but actively bringing healing from conflict.
- Expect Opposition: following Jesus means we won’t live the way the rest of the world lives. And that means we WILL bump up against some opposition in our lives.
The Beatitudes remind us that being blessed isn’t about life going perfectly. It’s about knowing that, no matter what happens, God’s Kingdom is breaking into our reality.
The good news? You are already invited into this beautiful Kingdom.
So today, whether you’re on the mountaintop or deep in the valley—you are blessed.
ERIK LINDEEN 