Blessed Assurance
This poem was inspired by a conversation my husband and I were having about the juxtaposition of Jesus having to take on the curse we deserved so that we could be blessed. Leading to also realizing the blessings we receive from God look foolish outside of a biblical worldview. Two of my muses for this poem were the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 and the lyrics of the hymn, “Blessed Assurance.”
Matthew 5:3-10 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
I think what’s profound about the sermon on the mount and the Gospel is the upside kingdom. To be blessed in the kingdom of God is to die to yourself, mourn your fleshly desires, and forsake selfish gain. But with Jesus being the reward, all of those things grow strangely dim.
I hope this poem encourages you.
Blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine
But this foretaste
Doesn’t seem “glorious”
As the word is usually defined
Blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
He says being poor is my inheritance
Mourning is my comfort
Humility is my home
Being hungry and thirsty is my righteousness
Being merciful is my mercy
Being pure in heart is my sight
Bringing peace is my family
Persecution is my kingdom
Blessed?
Assurance?
Sounds like a cursed burden
Inheritance is supposed to make me rich
Comfort is supposed to come from plenty
Humility, just a mask I’m wearing
Hunger and thirst are easy to satisfy
Mercy is only meant for me, myself, and I
Purity shields my eyes from the things I don’t want to see
Peace is only meant for those I decide are family
Persecution is to be locked out of my kingdom, throw away the key, please
Where is the easy?
Where is my glory?
Am I not deserving?
Haven’t I suffered enough?
Haven’t I done enough?
Where is this blessed assurance?
Where is my blessed assurance?
Where-
Wait
I see Him there
Is… is that Him?
That can’t be
My blessed assurance
Hanging on a tree
Blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
He has no money, no riches to take Him down
Thorns shoved onto his head, shaped into a crown
He has no comfort, no clothes, no dignity
He’s naked and bleeding
He doesn’t care for Himself, but instead for those doing the hurting
From His crushed and breathless lungs
I hear, “God, forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing!”
He denies a drink that’s meant for numbing
God’s will and God’s will alone is His food and His drink
How is He cursed to become my blessing?
Showing mercy to the undeserving
His purity makes His eyes able to see humanity as they are meant to be
Does His silence mean He has peace?
Is He at peace?
He’s… dying
Blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
Oh how I don’t deserve this glory divine
I am an heir of salvation, purchased of God
Washed by His blood
All while I should have been in the place that He stood
Born of the Spirit that left His body as He breathed His last breath
All is at rest
I in my savior am happy and blessed
All while my savior is being laid to rest
Watching and waiting looking above
Filled with His goodness lost in His love
What love is this?!
This is more than some story I could have dreamt up
This is more than just earthly glory and riches for my greedy hands to clutch
This is God’s will here on earth being done
Blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
But this foretaste of glory divine
Does not always seem “glorious”
As the word is usually defined
It’s perfect submission
Consistent repentance
Dying to myself just as He did
This is my story, this is my song:
Praising and living and sacrificing for my Savior all the day long
Praise be for this blessed assurance
Praise be for Jesus is mine
Praise be for this foretaste of glory divine
Praise be for death is dead and my Savior is alive
Praise be for my flesh which I now get to deny
Praise be for suffering, enduring to become more like Christ
Praise be for His second coming, when all wrongs will be made right
Blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
