God Bless America

I’m writing this the day after Independence Day!  There were lots of fireworks shows, there were also parades, and there were other things that happened to show pride in being an American.  And one phrase you probably heard was this:  “God Bless America.”

I think sometimes that people misunderstand that phrase.  They think that somehow we’re bragging when we say “God Bless America.”  They think we’re claiming that God owes it to us to bless America, that we have earned blessings from God because of how great we and because of how good we are.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  A “blessing”, especially a blessing from God, is not something we earn.  We don’t receive God’s blessings because of how great we are.  If we did, we’d have to be able to compare ourselves to God.  And we all know, if we’re honest, how far short we fall in that comparison.  God does not owe it to us, as Americans, to bless us.  God does not owe it to us to do anything.  A blessing is a gift, so a blessing from God is a gift from God.  God gives us God’s blessings not because we deserve them, but because God loves us and cares about us so much.

When we say “God Bless America”, then, that’s a request.  It’s a plea.  It’s a prayer.  We go to God humbly, asking God, in His mercy, to bless America.  

“God Bless America” is a recognition that we can accomplish nothing without God’s blessing.  Whatever America has accomplished has been accomplished through the greatness and goodness of God.  And whatever America accomplishes in the future will have been accomplished through the greatness and goodness of God.  America can only be great by relying on God’s goodness and God’s greatness.  In other words, America can only be great because it has received God’s blessings.

So the next time you hear that phrase, “God Bless America”, insert the word please.  God, please bless America.  Please allow America to remain a great nation.  Please turn our hearts toward You, so that we can know your goodness and your greatness.  God, please bless America, so that it can be the great nation it can be.  God, please bless America, so that everyone will turn toward You and love You.  God, please bless America.  But then, at the end of your prayer, pray this:  “Thy will be done.”

We ask God to bless America.  But we know, no matter what may happen, that God is in control, and that God will win in the end.  And we know that if keep our faith in Jesus as our Savior strong, you and I will win, too.