His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life..." John 9:2-3

 

While following Jesus, the disciples came upon this man who had been blind from birth. We all know the story that Jesus took his spit and combined it with dirt and put it on the man's eyes. He told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam and his eyesight was healed. It's another amazing example of the miracles that Christ can do, but these verses give us new insight into how God can use situations to let his glory shine in our lives.

So often we are like the disciples and when tragedy strikes our lives we want to ask what is it that we did to deserve this? We also try and reason arguments as to how this could happen to us. We try to see if calamity was caused by ourselves and often times we realize that we don't deserve what happens to us but our confusion comes when we try to find out the reason why. We struggle with the idea that if I don't deserve this, then why is it happening? Well this verse has our answer.

Jesus answered the disciples, it was neither the blind man nor his parents who sinned that it happened. In so many situations we recognize that it was not us who brought it upon ourselves. We realize we don't deserve everything that happens to us and our assurance that our pain is not wasted and our struggle is not in vain is found in the last part of this verse. Jesus says, it happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. What this means is that sometimes the only reason bad things happen is so that they can add to the long story we have of God's working in our lives.

Sometimes the things that cause us to fall the hardest are the things that help us to see just how much God can deliver us from them. Even in calamity when we remember that all is done to show the glory of God in our lives then we can have peace of mind and know our suffering is not in vain. We can stand firm in the promise that all things work for our benefit and that God's glory and work will shine through us just as it did with the blind man. We can be reminded that because all in our lives is done to show God's glory in our lives it means we will receive the blessing of being brought from calamity and being placed back up high.

Low points allow us the opportunity to truly rely on God. Knowing that things that we don't deserve happen in order to show God's glorious salvation and ability to rescue us will bring peace during the storm. The next time something bad happens, run right to your Lord but stop asking why this is happening. Simply ask him to show you how this too can be added to your story and testimony about the wonderful way he touches your life each day.

 

 

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Dear Lord,
We thank you for opening our eyes and helping us to stop trying to rationalize the why's and how's in life. Help us to stand firm to these verses which teach us that sometimes things just happen so that you can be revealed. Help us to stand firm in that and find peace. Flood our minds with your promises when times begin to strike us down. Help us to recognize the good that will come from our calamity. Remind us that our groans don't go unnoticed and let us not forget that even the blind can be opened to see the glory of God in all situations. Open our eyes so that we may talk of the way that you have worked in our lives especially during the times of great hardship. In your holy name, Amen.