“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. ‘Rabbi,’ his disciples asked him, ‘why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?’ “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,’ Jesus answered. ‘This happened so that the power of God could be seen in him…” (John 9:1-3 NLT)
One hundred fifty days ago, when everything was upside down and spinning out of control, I was speeding to the hospital hoping that I would make it in time to say good-bye to my wife. The baby was surely dead, so I was only able to focus on the person I knew was still breathing the last time I saw her. On that desperate car ride I reminded myself of the 91 Psalm and clung to the words “I will be with him in trouble.” After a very long night and an obvious miracle from God, my wife, Becky, and little daughter, Angelina, who was only twenty-two weeks old, were still breathing.
Over the next days and weeks, in the solitude of my mind, I found myself wondering if any of what transpired had been my fault. Was there some evil in my life that had caused such pain and heartache for Becky and the baby? Surely, I was to blame. As I wrestled with this inner dialog, I could not stop reminding myself of the above passage in John 9. In it I found peace for my soul. It was God’s special way of saying to me, “Son, this has nothing to do with you. Watch and see. This happened so that the power of God could be seen in you and your family.” From that time on, I have repeatedly stated that my belief is that God will get much glory from this situation. I believe this is the case.
Over the months since that time, many have given praise to God for his power in sparing our lives. Not only close friends and relatives, but people as far away as Senegal, Africa, who had heard through the grapevine, were inquiring about us and giving glory to God. I do not know why we lived when so many others do not, but God has His purposes.
Fast forward to now, and I am holding my two-week-old daughter, Angelina. I cannot put into words the awe I feel when I consider the miraculous journey she has already been on. Now as I drive around town with Becky, many who know us from places we frequent have been rejoicing and giving God glory for the arrival of the little baby. Just today, while visiting the Salvation Army, people we did not recognize rejoiced when they saw the baby. They had seen Becky when she was in a wheelchair, and had watched her in her recovery. Now they saw the little baby who, by all odds, should not have made it, and exclaimed, “Look, it’s the miracle baby!”
My purpose in writing this is not to boast, but rather to encourage. Many hard days were traveled by Becky to get to this point. Many of you may be in the middle of some hard days. No matter the circumstance, hold fast to the author of our faith. His plans are not our plans, and His ways are not our ways, but they are still the better path to walk on. God is a master at turning ashes into beauty. In reality, all of us who are in Christ are all “miracle children.” We were all once dead, but are now alive, to the glory of God. This Sabbath, remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is ultimately in control and has authority over life and death. When everything else seems to be in chaos, he is not shaken.
