Surely the blind man, whose eyes had not functioned properly since birth, must have assumed there was no hope that he would see. It would be one thing if he had lost his vision from disease as a child or because of an injury as an adult. Then he would know what he was missing, which might spark just enough hope that he could see once again. But this was not the case. This man had never been able to see. Surely he did not expect to receive something he had never had in the first place.
And based on the questions the disciples asked Jesus—“Is it this man’s fault that he’s blind? Or is he being punished for the sins of his parents? ”—the blind man probably carried a burden of shame for his condition. He had likely heard plenty of people, perhaps even family and friends, ask the same questions. Aware of his blindness since birth, this man must have felt at times that he was the victim of grave injustices. Why should he be punished for something his parents did? And what could he possibly have done as an infant to deserve such cruel punishment, the deprivation of his sight? Eventually, this man might have started believing that somehow his blindness was his fault.
But Jesus corrected such faulty thinking before He proceeded to give this man his sight: “ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned: said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). The blind man’s condition was not a punishment or even the consequence of anyone’s sin. It was an opportunity for God’s power, glory and goodness to be showcased. The answer Jesus gave to the disciples reframed the way they perceived the blind man’s condition, and it continues to shift the paradigm of our perception today.
What if the suffering, pain and struggles you are facing are similar to the blind man’s condition? What if they are not an injustice to endure but an opportunity to showcase God’s glory? Have you ever considered that you are not being punished when you are faced with challenges, but rather you are being presented with the potential for experiencing the miraculous, omnipotent power of God? This has happened so that the works of God might be displayed in you.
And, my friend, no matter what you are facing—blindness, cancer, bankruptcy, divorce, addiction, homelessness or betrayal—nothing is impossible for God.
Throughout the pages of Scripture and across the centuries, this refrain continues to echo. No matter what you are going through, no matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how unbelievable your loss or unfathomable your pain, you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus! What you perceive as impossible is simply an incomplete vision obstructed by your human limitations. Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). When you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you, then you can move mountains with faith as small as a mustard seed (see Matthew 17:20).
I am convinced that God is attracted to impossible circumstances.
Show Him a barren womb.
Show Him a closed door.
Show Him a broken heart.
Show Him a shattered dream.
Show Him a bad medical report.
Show Him an empty bank account.
Show Him a dysfunctional family.
Show Him your need, and get ready for God to show up!
We are promised, “For no word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37).
He gave Abraham a word, and it never failed.
He gave Moses a word, and it never failed.
He gave Joshua a word, and it never failed.
He gave Hannah a word, and it never failed.
He gave Elijah a word, and it never failed.
And God gave us not just a word but the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:1, 14). Our Abba Father God gave us Jesus, the Word, and He has never failed!
The Lord has a word for you now, so get ready for the impossible. Your family is about to give birth to something amazing that will have an impact on generations. In your family, get ready for the impossible to take place. In your faith, get ready for the impossible to take place. In your finances, get ready for the impossible to take place.
Open up your mouth, speak into your house and say, “The Word of God will never fail!” I dare you to look into your bank account and say, “The Word of God will never fail!” Speak into that relationship that is full of drama and proclaim, “The Word of God will never fail!” I dare you to text your children and declare, “The Word of God will never fail!” I do not care how impossible it looks today—God is about to show up!
He is attracted to the impossible so that no human can get credit for what He is about to do. Your God is the God of the impossible!
Samuel Rodriguez joins James and Betty this week on LIFE TODAY. From Your Mess, God’s Miracle by Samuel Rodriguez. Provided by Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright ©2023. Used by permission.
