God Wants to Show His Power Through Us

This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. (John 9:3 NLT)

A daughter born with significant challenges

My husband and I recently escaped for six days to rest and recover from the plethora of health issues we’ve experienced since the New Year. One afternoon we shared the hotel hot tub with a couple and their young teenage daughter. I would have loved to have heard their story. Unfortunately, other people were in the tub and conversation didn’t lend itself to that opportunity. One thing’s for sure—they’ve experienced more than a few challenges.

The daughter’s arms and legs were stiff, bent and locked at the joints. Her neck was immovable, too. But that didn’t hinder her from zipping down the waterslide in her mom’s arms. Neither did it stop her from laughing as she watched her mom ride the slide a second time.

The girl gazed up at her dad’s bearded face as she lay cradled in his arms, her legs bobbing in the tub’s jets. Her brown eyes sparkled as she listened to him talk about their dinner plans and about watching a movie afterwards.

My spirit immediately connected with these folks; they felt like old friends. My hunch is that they were Christ followers. They radiated strength, peace, joy, and warmth. Even their eyes smiled when they spoke.  Their interaction with each other and those around them inspired me.

A man born blind

John 9:1-38 tells the story of a man born blind. Onlookers suspected that his physical challenges resulted from his parent’s sin.

But Jesus said otherwise: “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”

And then He did the miraculous and restored the man’s sight.

If the man had been born with sight, this miracle wouldn’t have happened. People would not have witnessed the power of God displayed in this manner, and many would not have believed in Him.

Our problems reveal God’s power

I don’t profess to understand all of God’s ways. His purposes are often far beyond my limited understanding. But one thing I do know: the challenges we face provide opportunity for His power to be seen.

Sometimes that happens when God miraculously fixes the problem. Other times, it happens through our response to the ongoing hardship. Admitting our weakness and trusting Him to fill us with His strength one day (sometimes one moment) at a time changes us, refines us, removes the dross and self-absorption from our lives. His strength, peace, and joy fill us. And others see His power demonstrated through us.

God wants to show His power through me and you. I’m trusting for this to happen as I continue to recover from my leg injuries.