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I believe God is still in the miracle-working business. I’ve seen miracles in my own life.
I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, but my grandmother made sure my sister and I were in church. I’m so thankful for her and for the church where I first heard the message of Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the cross.
But even though I heard and believed that message as a child, I did not stay in the faith. My straying started in high school. I was a people pleaser. I craved acceptance and love from others. That can be dangerous for a young person who hasn’t learned wisdom and isn’t surrounded by people who have her best interest in mind.
In college, I found the freedom of no one telling me what to do, including the church, and I ran from God.
We were created to know, love, and serve God. Like the story of the prodigal son, running from Him led me down a painful path. Sin always leads to pain and heartache.
Thankfully, people were praying for me. God rescued me and turned my life around. Not only did He save me, but He saved my entire family in just a few years: my mom, my dad, and my sister. What God did in our family is truly a miracle.
But as I turned my heart back toward the Lord, I had to deal with the pain it was carrying. Much of that pain was self-inflicted, the result of the sin I had chosen. But there was also pain I had stuffed down deep into my heart—the pain of growing up in an alcoholic home and the pain of being exposed to things that no child should have to deal with at such a young age.
Today, I can honestly say that God has healed me. I am eternally grateful. God is a healer. It’s who He is.
Yes, I believe in physical healing—the healing of bodies. I believe God still heals with miracles today, the same way Jesus did when He walked the earth. I’ve seen Him do so. But eventually, we will all be forced to leave these physical bodies behind. The healing He brings to our hearts and minds, however, will last for eternity. Praise the Lord.
During my early years as an adult Christian, I asked God some very hard questions. One of my most frequent questions was, “Why?” I was desperate to find meaning behind the hurtful things I suffered in my childhood, things that I had no control over.
God was patient with my questions and my need to understand. He helped me see many situations through His eyes, which helped me move forward in my healing journey. But at times, the Holy Spirit asked me to move forward by faith even when I didn’t understand, even when I still had unanswered questions, and even when I was still hurting inside.
The truth is, even if we figure out exactly where things went wrong, discover exactly what caused our pain, and understand why we are the way we are, that knowledge isn’t helpful unless we continue to move forward in God.
Thankfully, we can continue to move forward toward healing even before we have all our questions answered or understand all the dynamics surrounding what happened. We don’t have to stay stuck in the loop of constantly trying to figure out what’s wrong with us so we can be free from it. Knowing what’s wrong doesn’t necessarily bring healing.
Jesus does.
Please don’t misunderstand me. Knowing “why” can be very helpful in our healing journey. Understanding situations more fully can help us extend more grace to ourselves and others in our story. But we can still find healing even if we don’t find all of the answers.
I’m so thankful for the work of healing that has transformed my heart. Thank You, Jesus, for the miracles You have done in my life.
When We Demand Proof
Last week, as I was reading Matthew 12, I read something that made me think about the difference between those who believe and those who don’t believe in the power of God. It reminded me of how some seem to experience the miraculous work of Jesus in their lives while others don’t.
Jesus was traveling from town to town, performing many miracles, healing people, raising the dead, and feeding the multitudes. Then He encountered some scribes and Pharisees who said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
Here were men who didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, yet they were asking Him to prove to them, by some great miracle, that He was indeed the chosen One sent by God. They were putting Him to the test.
But He didn’t take their bait.
Those who were following Jesus from town to town, those who sat under His teaching and were genuinely curious about His claims, saw Jesus perform many miracles. You see, Jesus reveals Himself to those who earnestly seek Him.
These scribes and Pharisees wanted Jesus to make them believe.
He doesn’t do that.
Jesus will encourage a doubting heart that is sincerely seeking Him, but He won’t perform for those who have hardened their hearts against Him and dare Him to change their minds.
Faith is always a choice.
Placing our faith in Jesus is more than just believing He existed or believing the story of the cross. James 2:19 reminds us that even the demons believe in God—and tremble.
The faith that leads to salvation in Christ is the faith that believes and obeys. Jesus is looking for followers who are all in- those who have decided to serve Him with all their heart, not just their words.
In this passage, Jesus goes on to remind these scribes and Pharisees what true faith looks like. He reminded them of Jonah, who warned the men of Nineveh that unless they turned from their evil ways, God would bring judgment upon them.
Jonah didn’t perform any miracles or give them any great sign to make them believe. He only delivered the message God gave him. And yet they believed his message and repented.
They had ears to hear what God was saying.
Jesus also mentioned the Queen of the South, who traveled a great distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon. She went to great lengths to seek out the truth.
Those who are truly hungry for truth will submit to it and obey it.
When we are hungry for Jesus, we will treasure His words, ponder them in our hearts, and strive to obey them in our everyday lives.
Those who truly love Jesus are sensitive to the Holy Spirit. They seek His guidance and earnestly desire to please Him.
They don’t demand. They believe, and then they see more fully.
The Miracles Along the Way
Yes, God performs miracles in the lives of His people. But these are usually miracles on the way—on the way from where you are to where you’re going, on the path we are walking with Him.
He is the true treasure.
The miracles are just sprinkled along the way.
When we demand great signs before we will believe or obey, we’ve put ourselves in the driver’s seat. We’re calling the shots. We’re giving God an ultimatum.
And He’s under no obligation to oblige.
He honors the humble but resists the proud.
So today, seek Jesus first.
If you need a miracle, ask. He performs miracles. But place your faith in Him, not in miracles.
Let’s approach Him humbly in prayer, believing He can do anything, but loving Him no matter what He chooses to do.
As Jesus Himself prayed:
“Not my will, but thine, be done.” — Luke 22:42
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