Are We Missing Our Blessings?

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I marvel at the fact that the two recorded instances of Yeshua “marveling” both have to do with faith—one in its abundance and the other in its absence. In Luke 7:9 (NKJV), Yeshua was astonished by the great faith of a Roman centurion who told Him, “Don’t trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Then, in stark contrast, Mark 6:6 (NKJV) tells us that Yeshua marveled at the unbelief of His own townspeople in Nazareth. Their familiarity with Him as “just the carpenter” blinded them to the reality of who He truly was, and their lack of faith hindered what He could do among them: “He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5 NKJV). They had access to the greatest blessing, yet their unbelief kept them from receiving it.

Fresh off the heels of meditating on these insights, I revisited Mark 6 and was reminded of a powerful truth: our perception and reaction—both driven by our core beliefs—play a significant role in shaping our reality.

Mark 6 ends with Yeshua and His disciples arriving at Gennesaret. The response of the people there was radically different from those in Nazareth. Instead of skepticism, they recognized Him immediately, spread the news, and rushed to bring their sick to Him. Their faith-filled response was rewarded: “…as many as touched Him were made well” (Mark 6:56 NKJV).

What a striking difference: different perception, different reaction, different levels of blessings.

Two different groups of people encountered Yeshua, but their outcomes were vastly different. One group dismissed Him, and the other embraced Him. Their perception of who He was influenced their reaction, and ultimately, the level of blessing they received.

This contrast serves as an important reminder that we too can miss out on the blessings that are right in front of us—not only from God directly, but also through the people around us. Familiarity can breed a dangerous complacency, causing us to overlook the wisdom, encouragement, or help that God has placed within our reach. When we fail to see the potential in others because of preconceived notions, pride, or lack of humility, we may be rejecting the very blessings we’ve been praying for.

Faith and humility go hand in hand. Let’s be careful not to hinder  our blessings.


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