I was reading in John 9 this morning and this verse jumped off the page at me “God can’t possibly be behind this man [being healed] because He is breaking the rules of the Sabbath. How can such a lawbreaking scoundrel do something like this?” (verse 16).
Where is God misbehaving in your life? What doesn’t fit “into your box” of how God should act; how He should be answering your prayers; how He needs to work in your life? What answers aren’t you seeing because your field of vision is “somewhat” 🙂 tunnel-like in nature?
I love it when our Heavenly Father gives me “wake-up” calls like this.
My answer today, that caught me off guard completely, happened earlier in Chapter 9. Jesus comes across a blind man and the crowd around him starts asking Jesus questions about “WHY” is this man blind. Who sinned, him or his parents?
Jesus’ answer:
“He is blind so the deeds of God may be put on display.”
John 9:3
Jesus didn’t even address why. It wasn’t important, because He knew who was behind this man being blind.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
No, it wasn’t “why” Jesus addressed. What was important to Jesus was “what’s next” and the answer was and still is: God’s glory.
Amazing isn’t it? All Jesus saw in this problem, a problem that had lasted for years and years, was a chance for God’s glory to be displayed as He carried out His purpose to destroy the works of the enemy (1 John 3:8).
How many times have you asked “WHY” looking for someone or something to blame? Like somehow if I can blame this on something or someone, it is easier to accept and bear. Why is that? Because if there is no one to blame our minds can’t figure out a way to keep us safe. Safe from the bad thing happening to us when we are looking at a situation in someone else’s life. If it is our life, safe from the problem happening again to us or happening to others we love.
It’s my birthday today and I’ve received this wonderful gift from Jesus and my Heavenly Father – no matter what chronic or acute problem I am facing, asking why really can only supply me what my own soul and resources can conjure up. Whereas if I ask Jesus what’s next I open the gateway for the glory of God to be revealed in my life moment by moment as He meets my needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19).
Now that’s a birthday present and an amazing reason to hope!!
You know what? My gift is more than big enough to share so my prayer for you is the Holy Spirit will blow through you like the wonderful breeze in the video below releasing the glory of God to be displayed in your life, just as it is displayed in the victory of the new life of spring.
Hope Without Limits 
I like the idea of focusing on ‘What’s next?’ rather than ‘Why?’ Perhaps it is because it focuses on hope, rather than sin.
Thanks for reading Nate. I absolutely agree that asking “what’s next” focuses on hope!
I know you had a Happy Birthday. I thank God you had one.
Thanks Joni!
What a wonderful prayer, Hope. This morning I sat in church preoccupied with the glory of man, and all the time I could hear God calling. I was having a Jonah moment. Actually, I’m having a Jonah year. I stubbornly want things for myself, and think the best way to get it is through my own striving.
A still, small, voice, and insistent. So hard to believe, when you are surrounded by all that glitters, that his glory is stronger and more enduring than any of it; that this is a facade, a masquerade, compared to what he has planned.
I would appreciate a prayer or two, should you have a minute spare 🙂 Lovely post. As usual.
Hi Kate – please email me at hope4theheartalways@gmail.com and I will send a personal prayer your way!!
Hi Kate – you’ve been on my heart for the past week. I was hoping you would send me an e-mail so we could “chat” one-to-one. Heavenly Father, You alone know exactly what Kate’s heart needs, You alone can provide for those needs. Bless Kate Father, bless her indeed. Break off the pain in her life. Expand the boundaries of her life with You, Your presence, Your provision. Rest upon Kate. Protect her from all harm (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Open the eyes of Kate’s heart to grant Kate a spirit of wisdom and revelation, of insight into mysteries and secrets in the deep and intimate knowledge of You, by having the eyes of her heart flooded with light, so that Kate can know and understand the hope to which You have called Kate, and how rich is Your glorious inheritance for Kate because she has been set apart by Jesus (Eph 1:17-18). Do all this and more than I can dare to dream to ask for Kate (Eph 3:20) because of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. AMEN