One of the symptoms of the bubonic plague in Europe in the 6^th century was coughing and sneezing. It is believed that Pope Gregory suggested saying, “God bless you,” after a person sneezed. It was a prayer offered in hopes of protecting the person from certain death. 

When we think about a blessing, we usually think of something good, exciting, and unexpected. However, that’s not always the case. A man misses his flight because of a traffic snarl. Because he missed his flight, he also missed a business meeting on the other end that would’ve surely furthered his career. He is furious. But then he hears that the plane he missed had crashed, and not a soul had survived. Suddenly, the circumstance he saw as a curse became the greatest blessing of his life. 

Often, blessings come disguised as tragedy, disappointment, and pain. If we can trust the Father to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), the real purpose of the situation may eventually emerge. We see through a glass darkly. We can’t see the future, and we certainly don’t know the outcome of our dilemmas. However, the Father can and does. Problems are often blessings in disguise. So, trust the Lord.