Disagreement. Discontent. Complaints. Injustice.
It seems that it's all we hear about in the news these days.
Black vs. White.
Democrat vs. Republican.
Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice.
etc, etc etc.
The list could go on all day.
But right now, there's none of that.
When I turn on the news, I see one thing.
A whole lot of people trying to survive.
And a shift in focus.
That's because tragedy is the great equalizer.
Natural disasters, sickness, death...they level the playing field.
There is no color or class or financial advantage.
A storm doesn't decide to spare one people over another.
We are all at the mercy of something we can't control.
And we are left helpless, in the waiting.
That helplessness.
That brokenness.
The sheer uncertainty of what tomorrow holds,
brings us together.
And it is beautiful to see.
We can't talk our way out of it.
We can't buy our way out of it.
We can't earn our way out of it.
We can't rely on man to save us.
Instead, we look to the One who controls the oceans and the seas.
The One who is our ever-present help in time of trouble.
And we pray.
I saw a video of Christians praying on the beach in Miami earlier.
Some were saying that their prayers were what made the hurricane change direction.
Others said they were crazy.
Still others wondered why the Lord heard their prayers,
and not those of the people
on the west side of Florida.
And others suggested that maybe it was the sins of an area
that brought the devastation to them.
I don't know why a hurricane takes on a certain path or why one person gets sick over another, but I do know this.
In John 9, Jesus approaches a man, blind from birth. Those around questioned why the man was born blind and Jesus says this:
"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered.
"This happened so the power of God could be seen in him."
John 9:3
Did you get that? It had nothing to do what the man had or hadn't done. It didn't matter who his parents were. He was born blind for a greater purpose. So that "the power of God could be seen in him."
A little later, after Jesus had miraculously healed him, some asked the man:
"How then were your eyes opened?" they asked.
John 9:10
In this case, Jesus healed his eyes with a little spit and some mud.
Gross, right?
But more than giving this one man physical sight,
He opened the eyes of those around him.
The man's brokenness couldn't be denied.
And neither could the power of God.
People are dropping their defenses.
They are helping neighbors they may never have met before.
They are embracing and sharing and giving in a way they normally wouldn't.
And it's all because of something potentially scary, devastating, and hard to watch.
And yet, we see God's glory. We see grace.
And perhaps, we see mercy in the storm.
Mercy that allows us to stop focusing on the things of this world, and instead,
fix our eyes on what's most important.
The Lord uses everyday people and events for His amazing purposes.
It doesn't always look the same.
He can use a doctors and medicine.
He can use a small-town girl, who just loves to share her heart (and talk too much).:)
He can use first responders.
He can use the least of these who share the little they have.
He can use a storm named Harvey or Irma.
And He can even use you.
The world is not all about us, y'all.
The Lord has a plan. Greater than anything we could imagine.
Our pain. Our heartache. Physical suffering. Natural disasters. Even death.
They are tools. Tools to open our eyes to see God's glory.
To embrace those around us, free from judgement.
To level the playing ground and see that there is only One who is powerful to save.
And to take every opportunity to share that anything good in us comes from above.
In our own strength, we are weak.
But with the Lord, we are strong.
Use the coming days to see His glory displayed.
Look around at all of the blessings in the brokenness.
Thank Him for His great mercy. Brag on all He's doing in your heart.
And, like Paul, use the brokenness in your own life to point to Him.
"And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Take a minute to just sit down and watch the Lord work:)
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