Verse of the Day: “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 works of God might be displayed in him.” ~ John 9: 2-3
A few days ago, our community was devastated by the news of a tragic car accident involving four of our area’s youth. Two survived. And two, unfortunately, did not. Immediately, Facebook became a firestorm, with a constant barrage of posts to their families and to the teens involved. Most expressed their love, sympathies, prayers, and some shared fond memories of the departed. And just like all tragedies that we witness or go through in life, there were questions.
Why weren’t they wearing their seat belts? Was there alcohol involved? Was the driver going too fast? Did he swerve to avoid hitting a deer?
When things happen in our lives, we seek to understand them. Just like the disciples who came upon the blind man, we want to know who is really responsible. We need someone to cast the blame on, even if it is ourselves. Do any of these questions or thoughts sound familiar?
- He should’ve never been left alone with those kids in the first place!
- Why wasn’t she watching her child?
- Where was the teacher when this was happening?
- Why didn’t they have the gun locked in a safe?
- I will never be the same because of what she did to me.
- If she hadn’t tried to abort her baby, he wouldn’t have been born like that.
- She shouldn’t have been dressed like that.
- If my parents had stayed married I wouldn’t have these issues.
- I should have been a better wife and mother and he wouldn’t have left us.
- If God truly loved me, He wouldn’t have let this happen.
I don’t know about you, but that last one stepped on my toes.
So who is to blame for the things that happen to us? Sometimes accidents just happen. Sometimes people make bad decisions. Sometimes that person is us. Is it wrong to want someone to answer for the things they’ve done or to want justice to be served? Absolutely not! Does that mean we should be so preoccupied with seeking or placing blame that we become blinded to the works God has already performed through our circumstances or the miracles that are waiting to be done? Of course not!
When the disciples asked Jesus who was responsible for the blind man’s plight, He replied that no one was to blame. He said that God had made him that way so that His mighty works could be displayed through him. Then He spat on the ground, mixing his saliva with the dirt and rubbed the mud on the blind man’s eyes and told him to go wash it off in the Pool Of Siloam. And when the man did, he could see. The man who had been blind since birth could see! God allowed him to be born without sight so that he could later tell everyone of the miracle that was performed on him.
Search Your Heart
Are you facing a tragic circumstance in your life right now? Are you like the disciples? Do you automatically assume that when something happens that someone is to blame? Is there someone who has to “pay”? Do you tend to tell yourself over and over that if only this person had not done this to you or if that had not happened then your life would be different? Or do you look at your circumstances from Jesus’ perspective – that whatever has happened to you or ever how you were born was so that the mighty works of God could be displayed through you?
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I do not completely understand why You have allowed certain things to happen in my life. Help me to trust that You do have a plan. I ask that You search my heart and mind. I don’t want to be so preoccupied with blaming others or myself for the circumstances of my life that I miss the mighty works that You want to work through me. Remove any animosity or vengeance from my heart, Lord, and replace it with Your perfect love; a love that covers a multitude of sins, even those done against me. These things I ask in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Delaina Carter 