When I've fallen

 

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 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 9:1-3)

 I remember one summer weekend when we went camping. My son was very young at the time. The first thing he did was get on his bike and ride around and around on the path. Faster and faster, as you know, boys go. I’ll bet he was thinking, “Life is good!”. We were all thinking that. Until he hit that dip in the road. And went skidding on both knees across the asphalt. Yes, as a parent, I had told him several times to slow down; that there was a safer way. But sometimes, no matter what you do, life happens. So I scoop him up, dry his tears, bandage the knees, give a kiss and a popsicle - and life continues.

 Was the pain completely avoided? Not this time. Was there comfort and love and steps taken to promote healing? Yes.

 Many of us don’t understand why God allows bad things to happen. I often have to remind myself that He has purpose in every thing, every event. Hard to understand. Hard, too, to remember that some things are not allowed in your life. Some things He does block, prohibit from happening. Action on His part … that we have no knowledge of; do not see.

 We all experience times when things go south. Sickness. Disease. Finances, Relationships. Go horribly wrong. And there is pain and frustration and anger. And why, God, why?!! Just as we don’t understand what He is preventing from happening, so we don’t understand what He has allowed. Yet we must cling to and constantly remember, God is all-wise and all-powerful. His love is forever and everlasting. And He wants it all displayed. He wants us all to see just how powerful He can be. Even in extreme situations, He is there to scoop you up, dry your tears, bandage, kiss, comfort. He wants you to see His loving response. He wants others to see His loving, compassionate, nurturing, parenting response. And be in awe at how amazing He really is.

 If you’ve fallen, if you’re feeling crushed – God has a plan being fulfilled through you. To bring glory to His character, His holy name. You and your clinging to Him are a part of that plan. A living testimony if you will. Someone is going to witness God in action through your trial. So, not in your own strength or endurance but the God light in you …

 Let God shine…