A God of miracles

So often, especially when listening to or reading the news, I think that if God would just give us some huge miracle, then more people would accept His grace and love, and there would be fewer problems in the world. But then I remember that God has given us all His roadmap for living together, and to Eternity, through His word, and through the sending of His son. As Jesus said in John 14:6 –" I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father, except through Me." I believe we are all the recipients of many miracles, some really big, and some small. How many times have I felt depressed, only to look up to see a stunning sunset? How many times have I narrowly missed being hit by a vehicle? How often have I observed nature, either wild animals or flowers, and stopped to marvel at God's wonders? What other wonders have I seen and not given credit to God?

I feel that I have been the recipient of many large – at least to me – miracles in my life. I was not raised in a Christian home, and yet God placed several people in my life, and several circumstances, which led me to become one of His children. Coincidence? No, a miracle.

There was a time in my life, especially during my teen-age years, when I desperately needed love and acceptance. God placed a wonderful, generous, warm-hearted woman in my life, who gave me the acceptance I was lacking. She called me 'dear' as often as she called me by name. Whenever I had some problem I went to her. I needed her. I remained friends with her until the day she died, and I still miss her. I so desperately needed some affirmation of my worth, that I often wonder what would have happened to me had she not been there for me.

Several years ago, my husband died of pancreatic cancer, after three weeks of illness. I was left with six children, the eldest of whom was 20, the youngest 8. Through all the uncertainty of the illness, the making of a will (yes, we had left that to the last!), the wondering what would happen to me and the children, there were friends, neighbours, members of my Bible study group, and of my church family, who were there to give me love and support, all placed there for me by God. And yet the greatest miracle I received was about six months of numbness. I felt nothing, no sadness, no happiness, not even love for those around me. I was able to get through the funeral, the mounds of paperwork, school startup, and all of the other details of life around me. Eventually, when I returned to the land of the living, I was able to deal with what my life would become. I would need to make a new life for myself, and I could now begin to deal with this.

A few years after my husband died, my daughter developed a syndrome called cauda equina. A disk in her back ruptured, and she was unable to walk. This condition is very rare; the doctor who treated her had seen only five cases in sixteen years. You have no idea how difficult it is to hear a child of yours say "You know I can't walk." Through diligent work at her therapy, and the prayers and support of many, many people, she progressed from a wheel chair, to crutches, to two canes, and finally, she is able to walk on her own. For me, this was a huge miracle.

Five of my children accepted Christ as their personal Saviour in their late teens, were baptized and received into church membership. It was my greatest wish that all of us would reunite in Eternity. For over fifteen years I prayed, not as constantly and faithful as I might have, that the sixth would become a Christian. But God is faithful, and yes! It finally happened that the last one to accept Jesus did become a Christian. God has given me so much.

These might not seem like miracles to you, certainly not up there with Moses parting the Red Sea, for example. But in my life, yes, indeed, right up there with Moses. Now, as we prepare to leave for Bolivia, I cannot help but wonder what miracles God will give us, as a group, and individually.

Bev Weston