Difficulty and Miracles

That hard thing you woke up to. It’s not the end. It’s the path. A path to what? It’s the path to a miracle you may not see coming.

Whether you’re battling pain, your health, financial trouble, or something else entirely—trouble never seems far away. Life is hard. That’s truth. But we live in a world where most people seem afraid to acknowledge hard things as a normal part of this life. They are. Life is hard. Difficulties aren’t the exception they are the expectation.

Expect difficulty. Lean into it. Not because you were hoping it would find you, but because you’re not afraid of it anymore. You can’t afford to spend your life dodging difficult things. Not only will it render you weak in a way you may never understand, it will Rob you of the miracle waiting on the other side.

No one knows peace like the one in the middle of life’s raging storm. No one knows warmth like the one trapped in the frigid wasteland. No one understands the miracle like the one standing on the precipice of disaster.

Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t turn back.

As hard as whatever you’re facing right now may be, as hard as what comes next might get—your miracle is waiting for you in the middle of the insanity.

There’s an amazing stretch of scripture in the Gospel of Matthew. In chapter nine Matthew recalled a moment when Jesus healed several people in short succession. Each of those people were smack dab in the middle of a crazy difficulty. It was when things were terrible that the miracle showed up. That’s when things changed for them.

We shouldn’t go looking for difficulty. But we shouldn’t spend our days dodging it either. Your difficulty is fertile ground for the miracle that’s coming. Hold on.

“Out of difficulties grow miracles.“ - Jean de la Bruyere

June 26 - I Am Glad

Read: John 11:1-16

Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." (John 11:14, 15 ESV)

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were Jesus' friends. There are a few different stories from the gospels that include them. Each of them are significant in their own right, but the account of Lazarus is both unique and powerful.

Jesus heard that his dear friend Lazarus was sick and decided that it was time to return to Judea. It was a trip that concerned the disciples due to some threats that had been made. Jesus' comment about both his friend's death, and the purpose behind his trip is revealing.

Jesus was glad that his friend had died. What a strange comment. Typically only the worst sort of sociopaths could find enjoyment in the death of another. But Jesus is no lunatic, he is beyond us. He was glad, not for the death, the gospel writer does say that Lazarus' death brought him to tears. No, Jesus was glad because the death of someone the disciples knew brought about an opportunity for them to experience the reviving power of Christ first hand.

I usually only have a very limited perspective on personal tragedy or hardship. I find great difficulty in ascertaining the proverbial silver lining. But Jesus knew the reality of Lazarus' situation. He knew that for his friend there was still life to be lived. There was still work to be done.

It would serve us well to remember the example of Lazarus when we are faced with difficulty. God does not abandon us in hard times. I believe He actually draws closer. You may never know as trouble sets in, Jesus may be looking at it as an opportunity to work a great thing in your life.